Lung function tests revealed that nearly half of the undiagnosed participants with severe symptoms likely have asthma, as indicated by positive diagnostic results.

Among those diagnosed, approximately one-third were not using any medication to manage their asthma, raising concerns about treatment adherence.

Professor Jonathan Grigg emphasized that asthma is exacerbated by exposure to pollutants and the potential impacts of climate change on air quality.

Innovative solutions, such as handheld wheeze detectors and school-based asthma clinics, are suggested as potential measures to alleviate the asthma burden in affected regions.

The research indicates that asthma rates in the region have surged due to rapid urbanization, which increases exposure to risk factors such as air pollution.

Using ISAAC criteria, two-thirds of adolescents reported severe asthma symptoms, with 80% of those previously undiagnosed.

Asthma is now the second most common cause of chronic respiratory deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions.

Almost half of the students exhibiting asthma symptoms reported being unable to access emergency medical care when needed, with 45% requiring emergency treatment in the past year.

A recent study led by Queen Mary University and published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health highlights the alarming prevalence and severity of asthma among undiagnosed young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Among the participants, 12% reported asthma symptoms, but a mere 20% of those had been formally diagnosed, underscoring a significant gap in asthma management.

Dr. Gioia Mosler noted that if the findings are representative, millions of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are likely living with undiagnosed asthma.

The study surveyed 27,000 pupils from urban areas across several African countries, identifying over 3,000 with asthma symptoms, yet only about 600 had received a formal diagnosis.