According to the recent news, doctors wrongly diagnosed children with asthma. Approximately half of the children who are receiving asthma medications may not necessarily have the condition. A new report conducted by a team of Dutch experts claims doctors fail to perform accurate lung tests in order to provide a diagnosis. As a result, many children are being given asthma treatments on symptoms alone.
Scientists from the University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands, examined the medical files of 656 so-called asthmatic children in the country, aged 6 to 18. The results pointed out almost 54 percent of them did not present any clinical signs of asthma.
Also, it was found that only 16, 1 percent of children labeled as asthmatic received the diagnosis with spirometry. Spirometry is a test used to track lung function. Moreover, 23, 2 percent of patients should have taken extra tests to have their condition confirmed. Ingrid Looijmans-van den Akker, lead author of the report, claimed
‘Over-diagnosis of childhood asthma is common in primary care, leading to unnecessary treatment, disease burden and impact on quality of life.’
Children who receive asthma treatment even though they do not have the condition are prone to various health problems. The drugs used to control asthmatic episodes can lead to muscle cramps, throat infections, tremors and vomiting. Also, children who suffer from asthma are recommended to avoid physical activity. In many cases this can lead to different weight problems in those who are misdiagnosed.
Last year, The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) stated that many adults with asthma have been, in fact, misdiagnosed. They are receiving over-prescribed medications which can seriously affect their lives. According to NICE, doctors have a tendency to give a diagnosis based on coughing, wheezing and breathing issues. They often look more at the patient’s medical history instead of performing the necessary tests.
Dan Murphy, head of external affairs at Asthma UK, explained asthma is very difficult to diagnose as it presents many complex causes. He added this is a condition which is prone to chance over time, meaning medical treatment also must change. However, he claimed the fact that doctors wrongly diagnosed children with asthma is a real concern.
Mark Baker, head of clinical practice at NICE stated that NICE is trying to create a guideline to help physicians. He continued saying NICE will provide advice on the best tests for accurately diagnosing asthma. Moreover, they will also develop methods to aid people control their symptoms.
Photo Credits: Wikimedia