Bronchial Asthma

Information

Bronchial asthma is a common disease, particularly in industrially developed countries. It is observed more frequently than cancer, tuberculosis, and rheumatism. The disease most commonly begins before the age of 10. At this age, boys are affected more frequently than girls (4:1; 3:1). At a later age, the incidence is approximately equal in men and women.

Multiple factors play a role in the development of bronchial asthma, some of which are not well understood:

Allergic factors - are significant in 70-90% of patients with bronchial asthma. According to the type and route of entry, allergens are divided into external and internal.

Clinical forms - According to the leading cause and immunological mechanism, bronchial asthma is divided into:

• Atopic bronchial asthma - with external allergens playing the leading role. The most common antigens are house dust, pollen, down and feathers, etc. This form of bronchial asthma is found predominantly in individuals under 35 years of age (most commonly in children and adolescents)
• Infectious-allergic bronchial asthma - infectious processes in the respiratory tract play an aetiological role, most commonly in the upper airways, less frequently in peripheral bronchiectases or in other organs (pyelitis, cholecystitis)
• Mixed bronchial asthma - evidence is found of both atopic and infectious-allergic bronchial asthma
• Other forms: "aspirin" asthma; exercise-induced asthma, and others

Clinical picture - Тhe most characteristic manifestation of bronchial asthma is the asthmatic attack, an expression of the bronchial obstruction that has occurred. It most commonly develops suddenly, and less frequently is preceded by prodromal phenomena (vasomotor reaction with abundant watery nasal secretion, frequent sneezing, nasal dryness), coughing, wheezing, rattling breathing, autonomic manifestations, and others.

Treatment - An international consensus on the treatment of bronchial asthma has been adopted and introduced in Bulgaria. Treatment of bronchial asthma is successful, especially if it is initiated immediately after an early and correct diagnosis and is managed by a specialist in pulmonary diseases.