This document provides information about bronchial asthma including its definition, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by inflammation and bronchial hyperactivity leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing and bronchospasm. It has a multifactorial etiology involving family history of atopy interacting with various environmental and infectious triggers. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness. Diagnosis is usually clinical based on symptoms and spirometry testing. Treatment involves emergency management with bronchodilators and steroids, and long-term management with inhaled steroids, bronchodilators, and avoidance of triggers.

1. UNIVERSIDAD TECNICA DE MACHALA
ACADEMIC UNIT OF CHEMICAL
SCIENCES AND HEALTH
MEDICINE SCHOOL
ENGLISH
BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
STUDENTS
William Cruz
Kevin Herrera
Jorge Pacheco
Angie Chamba
Sonia Quijilema
TEACHER:
Mgs. Barreto Huilcapi Lina Maribel
CLASS:
EIGHTH SEMESTER ‘’A’’
Machala, El Oro
2018

2. Bronchial Asthma
Definition
Chronic inflammatory airway disease, characterized by inflammation, bronchial
hyperactivity leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing and bronchospasm, manifested by
cough, dyspnea, chest tightness, wheezing, associated with variable airflow limitation that
is often spontaneously reversible or with treatment.
Etiology
Multifactorial: Antecedents of family atopy in 80% of cases interact several factors for their
clinical expression, there are various triggers both allergens intra and extra home and
environmental pollutants, passive and active smoking, infections of the upper airway
predominantly viral, exercise, Occupational awareness, climatic changes, gastroesophageal
reflux, diet, obesity.

3. Common triggers of asthma include:
 Animals (pet hair or dandruff)
 Dust mites
 Certain medications (acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin and other NSAIDs)
 Changes in climate (more often cold weather)
 Chemicals in the air or in food
 Exercise
 Mold
 Pollen
 Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
 Strong emotions (stress)
 Smoke of the tabacco
Signs and symptoms
Most people with asthma have separate attacks for asymptomatic periods. Some people
have prolonged difficulty breathing with episodes of increased shortness of breath.
Wheezing or a cough may be the main symptom.
Asthma attacks can last from minutes to days. They can become dangerous if the air flow is
severely restricted.
Asthma symptoms include:
 Cough with or without sputum production (phlegm)
 Retraction or pulling of the skin between the ribs when breathing (intercostal
retraction)
 Difficulty breathing that gets worse with exercise or activity
 Wheezing
Emergency symptoms that need timely medical attention include:
 Lips and face bluish
 Decreased level of alertness, such as intense drowsiness or confusion, during an
asthma attack
 Extreme respiratory distress
 Fast pulse
 Severe anxiety due to difficulty breathing

4.  Sweating
Other symptoms that may occur:
 Pattern of abnormal breathing - in which exhalation takes more than twice as long
as inspiration
 Transient respiratory arrest
 Chest pain
 Chest tightness
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the disease is usually clinical which is strongly suggested if there is a
combination of coughing, wheezing, respiratory distress, episodically and recurrently in a
patient with atopic family history of atopic parents, as well as the possibility increases in a
child with other diseases of atopic origin (Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis) It is
classified as Intermittent, Mild Persistent, Moderately Persistent, and Severe Persistent
based on the frequency and severity of signs and symptoms, and spirometry in children> 5
years of age; in children <5 years, spirometry is not valuable. Currently there is the
classification by control levels in controlled asthma, partially controlled and uncontrolled.
The degree of reversibility in FEV1 that indicates a diagnosis of asthma is generally
accepted as> 12% and> 200ml of the value of the prebronchodilator, to evaluate atopy we
perform determination of total serum IgE and specific allergen for Dx. etiological (Rast or
Cap system), In vivo tests: skin tests (prick test, prick by prick, patch test).
Treatment
Emergency management
Oxygen to achieve an oxygen saturation equal to or greater than 95%. β2 short-acting
agonist, in nebulization 150 mcg Kg Dosage every 20 minutes up to 3 doses or in metered
dose inhaler (pressurized MDI) 2 inhalations every 20 minutes for one hour. Systemic
steroids hydrocortisone 5 mg Kg dose. Prednisone 1-2 mg Kg day, if there is no immediate
response to the β agonist. Monitor vital signs Reevaluate in 1 and 2hrs later.
Long-term treatment

5. Inhaled steroids, oral steroids, antileukotrienes, long-acting β2 agonists, chromones, long-
acting theophyllines, specific immunotherapy Combination of inhaled glucocorticoid and a
long-acting B2-agonist bronchodilator..
Prevention
Asthma symptoms can be reduced by avoiding triggers and substances that irritate the
respiratory tract.
 Cover beds with "allergy-proof" covers to reduce exposure to dust mites.
 Remove the carpets from the bedrooms and vacuum regularly.
 Use only fragrance-free detergents and cleaning materials in the home.
 Keep humidity levels low and fix leaks to reduce the proliferation of organisms
such as mold.
 Keep the house clean and keep the food in containers and outside the bedrooms.
This helps reduce the likelihood of cockroaches. The body parts of cockroaches, as
well as their bowel movements can trigger asthma attacks in some people.
 If a person is allergic to an animal that can not be removed from the house, it must
be kept out of the bedroom. At the heating exits, place a filter material to catch the
animal dander. Change filters in heaters and air conditioners often.
 Remove tobacco smoke from the house. This is the most important measure a
family can take to help someone who has asthma. Smoking outside the house is not
enough. Family members and visitors who smoke outside carry residues of tobacco
smoke in their clothes and hair. This can trigger asthma symptoms. If you smoke,
this is a good time to quit.
Bibliography
 Paul O'Byrne, Eric D. Bateman, Jean Bousquet, Tim Clark, Ken Ohta et al. Global
Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2006; 8: 22-109.
 Bacharier, A. Boner, K.H. Carlsen, P. A. Eigenmann, T. Frischer, et al. Diagnosis
and treatment of asthma in childhood: a practall consensus report. Allergy 2008; 63:
5-34.

6.  Kaj Korhonen, Tejar Dunder, Timo Klaukka, Tiina M Reijonen, Matti Corp. Use of
inhaled corticosteroids decreases hospital admission for asthma in young children.
World J Pediatr 2009; 5: 177-181.