Permanent Solution To Asthma

Asthma is a worldwide disease, more common in urban than rural areas and accounts for about 28 percent of all non-tuberculous chest diseases. Asthma may occur at any age, but in 50 per cent of the patients, it starts before the age often. It is more common in boys than in girls, but at the age of 30 years, the occurrence is equal. About 25 to 30 per cent of asthmatic children spontaneously recover during adolescence, while a few percentages recover several years later. Asthma occurring at adult life is more serious. The attacks are more prolonged and frequent.

With the advancement in the methodology of asthma treatment, the life expectancy of asthmatics has been considerably increased than in the past. The management of bronchial asthma includes definite treatment aimed at removal of the cause and symptomatic treatment. If the cause of the asthma can be discovered, every effort should be made towards its removal to provide absolute and permanent relief. If the patient develops symptoms of allergy, such as itching, skin rashes and pruritus and running nose the possible allergen or the substance causing allergy should be identified. Its removal is the most efficient way of controlling allergic asthma. If this is not that possible, desensitization by using an extract of specific allergen should be attempted. In many cases of allergic asthma, the specific allergen is not identifiable and various antiallergic drugs are tried. A few patients of seasonal asthma are benefited by temporarily moving to another town before the onset of a particular season, but this is not always possible.

If infection is the cause, the patient should protect himself from strain and stress due to extremes of weather. Frequent attacks of common cold may lead to severe asthma. Intensive treatment with a specific antibiotic must be instituted without delay. The most common offending organisms are Haemophilus influenzae and Pneumococci. In these infections, broad-spectrum antibiotics like amoxycillin, ampicillin or cefuroxime are usually effective. The drugs used for providing symptomatic relief are those which cause broncho-dilatation or prevent bronchospasms. These can be divided into two groups, for treatment during acute attack and for prevention and treatment of chronic asthma.

The Receptor Simulants Adrenergic Beta; Salbutamol like Bronkotab, Asthalin, Ventrolin; Terbutaline (Bricanyl), Adrenaline Stimulation of the adrenergic beta-receptors of the lungs causes relaxation of the bronchioles and opens up the respiratory airway. Salbutamol and Terbutaline are most effective medicines. Salbutamol (Albuterol) is the most commonly used drug to produce dilatation of narrowed airways in asthma. For acute asthma attack it is given by inhalation, patient inhales the drug by a deep inspiration with nose pinched; training is needed for optimal results. Adrenaline has been the time tested gold standard for the termination of acute attack of bronchial asthma.

However, because it disturbs the heart rhythm it is now used rarely and the usage should be avoided and for the same reason Isoprenaline is not used today. Aminophylline, Theophylline, Deriphylline are the Direct-Acting Drugs. Aminophylline and Theophylline cause dilatation of bronchioles by direct action. Aminophylline which contains ethylenediamine and theophylline as a dissolving agent is very frequently used for providing immediate relief during an acute attack of bronchial asthma.

• John Palsson
• 29/11/2008, 6:59 AM
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