Asthma (Severe or Difficult-to-Treat) Clinic

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. It is the most common chronic lung condition in Singapore which affects both adults and children.

Common symptoms of asthma include:

Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Cough

While there is no known cure for asthma, it can be controlled with proper treatment and management plan.

What is Severe Asthma?

Asthma that remains uncontrolled despite:

Maximal inhaler therapy
Optimisation of all other treatable factors and comorbidities

Poor asthma control is indicated by the presence of any of the following:

Frequent symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, waking up at night with difficulty breathing, and/or limitation of daytime activities
Use of fast acting reliever medications such as salbutamol inhaler or additional doses of budesonide-formoterol several times a week.
Recurrent hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and/or visits to primary care provider requiring oral steroids for flare-ups
Frequent use of oral steroids for flare-ups
Impaired lung function

Our Multidisciplinary Team

Core

Supporting

Pulmonologists

Asthma nurses/coordinators

Pharmacists

Physiotherapists (including speech therapist)

Psychologist

Medical Social Worker

Smoking Cessation counsellor

Other specialties: Allergist, ENT specialist, Dermatologist, Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist, Gastroenterologists, Psychiatrist, etc.

Doctors:

Clin Assoc Prof Mariko Koh Siyue
Adj Asst Prof Tiew Pei Yee Jessica
Dr Puan Youxin

Asthma nurses/coordinators:

Ms Tan Li Leng, Karen
Ms Noor Syifa Bte Shamsuddin
Ms Tiang Poh Ching

Pharmacists:

Dr Ong Kheng Yong
Ms Vivian Tan
Ms Low Kai Xin

Physiotherapists:

Ms Sophia Cheah

Resources

Leaflets:

Webpages:

Biologics

More resources for asthma:

As you seek comprehensive support for your medical needs, it's beneficial to explore a variety of resources. These resources aim to complement the care provided by SGH and empower you with a broader understanding of your condition and available treatment options.