Abstract:
Parents of children with asthma are often worried
when their children participate in sport. Many
sportspeople who are asthmatic do well at a competitive
level.
Most people with exercise-induced asthma (EIA)
have persistent asthma which is not well controlled.
There are however a few people who have exerciseinduced
bronchoconstriction as the only presenting
sign. It is important to identify children with exercise-
induced asthma by using spirometry and exercise
challenge tests. This will help to differentiate
between children with EIA and those who lack interest
in sport or who are physically unfit.
Once the diagnosis is made, one should strive to
treat these patients so that they attain normal levels
of activity. These patients and their parents should
be made to appreciate that asthma, if well controlled,
does not preclude them from taking part in
sport. Control is attained by non-pharmacological
and pharmacological treatment. It is also necessary
for patients and their doctors to have a thorough
knowledge of drugs that can be used in sport without
transgression of antidoping rules. Sportsmen
and -women requiring prohibited prescribed medications
can apply for therapeutic use exemption of
these drugs.
