What Is the Definition of Asthma? Case Study Example

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, as explained by Turktas, Ozkaya , & Bostanci, (2008), asthma has been described as one of the world’s healthy challenge killing a large number of people both children and adults. Asthma is a very chronic syndrome that influences the airways. Asthma may be indicated through different symptoms such as prolonged coughing up to one and half month which may occur during day or night being associated with chest tightness. Asthma is also realized through difficulties in breathing which may be associated with shortness of breath. In children asthma is triggered mostly through respiratory tract infection of viral origin which may a rise from common cold, due to weather changes such as coldness, it may also be caused by animal dander, pollens, air pollution and others.

As indicated by Henry, Farber, & Boyette, (2005), detecting asthma in very small children may be tricky as it is difficult to determine their lung function, a doctor may rely on symptoms and other information in order to detect whether the child is having the asthma, incase of wheezing may be done through careful listening of the baby’s breathing process to ensure that the breathed sound comes from lungs airways. It is also important to determine the duration of coughing in a baby or any other relative being affected by the asthma. A very prolonged coughing may mean a seriously disease to be estimated keenly by pediatrician. Sweat test and chest radio graphs in baby may help in determining that the wheezing is not associated with lungs.

However, according to Brand, Hendriks & Vaessen, (2006), some symptoms may not mean a child is suffering from asthma unless careful examination is done, use of chest radio graphs and IV may help in assessing the exact problem. Therefore parents are required to ensure that conditions relating to asthma are well controlled, in older children asthma can be controlled by use of spirometry which may help determining the amount of air the child can exhale hence estimating the condition of lungs, also a doctor may frequently test the inflammation in the child’s airways to assess the nitric oxide gas in the airway; higher level of nitric oxide may indicate lungs are not in good condition hence need of controlling asthma well. Doctor provide portable, hand-held device known as peak flow meter to affected child to help in measuring the state of lungs as he/she continues with treatments, a low reading may be a sign of severe asthma, as a parent it is important to ensure the procedures provided by doctor to maintain asthma are well observed and followed by the child.

According to Pedersen, (2005), asthma can be treated by either quick-relief medicines or long-term control medicines to fight the symptoms. The quick relief may be through recommended medications, for example albuterol , to help unlock the bronchial airways in lungs other are pirbuterol and levalbuterol, nevertheless, the long-term control medications are provided to ensure chronic and uncontrollable symptoms are stabilized, doctors prescribe “controller” medications such as inhaled corticosteroids together with standard treatment in order to improve the functioning of lungs and put off symptoms tumbling the call for rescue medication. The other medication delivery devices include metered inhaler and dry powder inhalers given to child to breathe directly the medication into the lungs. The use of steroids may be accompanied by some side effects, steroid bursts can cause a number of side effects which gives parents a great worry for their children. Heath cares workers provide the parents with some prevention or treatment methods to address the side effects. For instance, emotional changes such as moodiness, a parent is provided with free assistance by the healthcare person.

References

Brand, P., Hendriks, J, & Vaessen, V., (2006). Inhalations of corticosteroids and the growth of asthmatic children.

Henry, H., Farber, J., & Boyette, M., (2005), control your child’s asthma: a breakthrough program for the treatment and management of childhood asthma.

Pedersen, S., (2005). assessing the effect of intranasal steroids on growth. J Allergy Clin Immune.

Turktas, I., Ozkaya, O. & Bostanci, I., (2008). Safety of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in young children with asthma. Am Allergy Asthma Immunol.