Brilio.net/en - Asthma is perhaps the most widespread respiratory illness in the world. Children make up a significant number of those afflicted with the ailment. This fact is often lost on their parents, many of whom fail to detect their childrens asthmas symptoms though it can be detected at an early age.The ailment can have a number of side effects, among them the inhibition of the childrens physical growth.
The childrens plight inspired five students of the Yogyakarta based Muhammadiyah University (UMY) to invent a special mask for them.
Named the Asthma Detector with Automatic Inhaler or DESAC, the mask comprised of an asthma detector, sound sensor and detector to detect an asthma attack, as well as an inhaler. The masks characteristics are enhanced by its portability.
(The DESAC) is designed to deal with asthma and its unpredictable relapses. In turn, this would ease the parents anxiety says Nurriza Kholifatulloh H, a member of DESACs research team, to brilio.net/en Wednesday (26/8). Its manufacturing process involves modeling (the mask) and making its software as well as programming. The mask itself was made at the Muhammadiyah Universitys Laboratory of Electrical Engineering.
The DESACs ease of use make it suitable for daily use by children with asthma. It also makes it indispensable for use in an emergency. Nurriza says that development of the mask is in its last stages. While the researchers have yet to market the DESAC, they are certain that the mask will do wonders to the public.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of people afflicted with asthma to be over 300 million around the world. They expected the number to increase to 400 million people by 2025.
(brl/tis)
