Asthma occurs in adults and usually starts in childhood.
Worldwide between 235 and 300 million people live with asthma and, every year, an estimated 250,000 die as a result of the condition.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most asthma-related deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries.
In South Africa, asthma occurs in 0.14% to 14.5% of children and 3.7% to 15% of adults, while the prevalence of asthma is 10% of the population.
Reviewed by independent healthcare consultant Prof Praneet Valodia and pulmonologist Prof Elvis Irusen, Head of the Division of Pulmonology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. October 2018.
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