Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

The general misunderstanding that asthma is incurable or uncontrollable has led to neglect in management. Prof. Wong pointed out that although there is still inadequate knowledge o f the causes of asthma, medical practitioners are able to treat it. Advances in technology have also raised the efficac y of medication. Ten years ago, the rate of hospitalization of Hong Kong's asthmatic children was 25 per cent, but it has now gone down to 10 to 15 pe r cent. Prof. Wong said that the condition very often improves as the child grows up, but improper management over an extended period of time can cause permanent damage to the airway. The research team designed an education programme to explain to patients the underlying and precipitating causes of asthma, the rationale of different types of medication, and th e proper use of treatment devices. Although there is no lasting cure for asthma yet, the disease can be put under good control with the right medication, which, if administered properly, will have no serious side effects and is not addictive. Th e condition of patients who have participated in the programme has been shown to have improved significantly, both in th e recurrence rate and symptom manifestation. With proper treatment, asthmatic children can live normal and healthy lives. P r o f .Gary Wong obtained his BMSc and MD degrees from the University of Alberta, Canada. He then furthered his training in the British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, and was made afellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American Academy of Paediatrics. After returning to Hong Kong, Prof. Wong obtained his MD from The Chinese University. He is an executive board member of the Asia-Pacific Society of Paediatric Allergy, Respirology, and Immunology as well as the chief editor of the newsletter for this society. Prof. Wong also serves as council member of the Hong Kong Society of Paediatric Respirology, One of his main research interests is comparative asthma epidemiology. P r o f . Fok Tai-fai obtained his MBBS from the University of Hong Kong and his MD from The Chinese University. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. Prof. Fok is chairman of CUHK Department of Paediatrics and also the current vice-president of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians. His research interests include paediatric and neonatal pulmonology, aerosol therapy, and environmental risk factors on child health. Prof. Joseph Lau received his first degreefrom The Chinese University and his masters and doctoral degrees from the Universtiy of California, Berkeley. He is currently the director of the Centre for Clinical rials and Epidemiological Research and an associateprofessor at the School of Public Health. He also serves as the chief executive officer of the Hong Kong branch of the Cochrane Centre and the honorary secretary of the Hong Kong Epidemiological Association. His research interests include clinical trials studies, HIV prevention, sexual health, drug use, and adolescent health. 31