About 700 Vietnamese and foreign experts have gathered at a two-day national paediatrics seminar that commenced in Hanoi on November 4.

One of the topics of broad interest discussed on the first day of the seminar was a report about asthma in children, especially those under five years old.

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According to the report, the rate of people with chronic asthma in countries ranges between 1 and 18 percent of their population. The average disease-contracting rate is 5 percent in adults and 10 percent in children.

Some studies in Vietnamese localities indicated that between 4 and 8 percent of local children suffer from the disease.

Dr Nguyen Cong Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Paediatrics Association, said Vietnam, is striving to reduce the mortality rates among newborn babies and under-five children to below 10 deaths and 20.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively.

A total of 110 reports will be discussed during the event, which aims to exchange experience and update on advanced technologies in the field among participating experts.

The seminar is co-organised by the Vietnam Paediatrics Association and the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics.

Source: VNA