By ULY CLINIC

Asthma

Introduction

It is a chronic reversible obstructive inflammatory airways disease caused by constriction of bronchial smooth muscle causing bronchospasm, oedema of bronchial mucous membrane and blockage of the smaller bronchi with plug of mucous.

Diagnostic Criteria

wheeze,
shortness of breath,
chest tightness
cough

Non-pharmacological

Avoid polluted environment which can trigger asthmatic attack
Avoid heavy exercise
Stop smoking

Note: The management of asthma in children is similar to that in adult. Infants under 18 months, may not respond well in bronchodilator

Assessment and treatment of severity of asthma attack in children ≥2 years & adults

Nocturnal Asthma

Patients who get night attacks should be advised to take their medication on going to bed.

Chronic Asthma in Adults

The assessment of the frequency of daytime and nighttime symptoms and limitation of physical activity determines whether asthma is intermittent or persistent.

Therapy is step-wise (Step 1–4) based on the category of asthma and consists of:

Preventing the inflammation leading to bronchospasm (controllers)
Relieving bronchospasm (relievers)

Controller medicines in asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids e.g. Beclomethasone

Reliever medicines in asthma

β2 agonists e.g. Salbutamol (short-acting

Long-term treatment of asthma according to severity

Updated on, 2.11.2020

References

1. STG

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