Asthma, atopy and COPD in sub-Saharan countries: the challenges.

Asthma and COPD are the most important chronic airways diseases worldwide. Urbanization and westernization of African countries are important factors for the development of chronic respiratory diseases. Unfortunately for many reasons, only few studies on atopy, asthma and COPD have been carried out in Africa and risk factors are not well known on the continent. Moreover, in many African countries drugs for asthma and COPD are either lacking or expensive. There is a need for setting up clear strategies to stop progression of asthma and COPD by reducing risk factors such as tobacco consumption and environment pollution.