One in five children in UAE suffers from asthma

Dubai: About 125,000 people in the UAE could be suffering from lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, due to smoking, passive smoking, air pollution and dust, health experts said.

One in five children in the UAE is estimated to be suffering from asthma.

"Respiratory disease is becoming the second leading cause of death worldwide and is becoming the number one burden on health care budgets. Little is known about these diseases and their impact in the Middle East region," Dr Bassam Mahboub, head of Pulmonary and Allergy at Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said.

He said international experts will meet in Dubai next month to discuss this major health issue.