Asthma

 Key Facts

Usually seen in

• Children below 15 years of age

Gender affected

• Both men and women

Body part(s) involved

• Lungs
• Airways

Prevalence

• Worldwide: 235 million(2016)
• India: 1-2% (2016)

Mimicking Conditions

• Vocal cord dysfunction
• Tracheal or bronchial obstruction due to foreign body or tumor
• Heart failure
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic sinusitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Anaphylactic reaction

Necessary health tests/imaging

• Blood tests: CBC, Immunoglobulin E (IgE) & Absolute eosinophil count (AEC)
• Pulmonary function test
• Chest X-ray
• Allergy panel/asthma/rhinitis screening test

Treatment

• Corticosteroids: Beclomethasone, Fluticasone & Prednisolone
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists: Montelukast & Zafirlukast
• Short-acting beta agonists (SABA): Salbutamol & Terbutaline
• Long-acting beta agonists (LABA): Salmeterol & Formoterol
• Methylxanthines: Theophylline
• Anticholinergic drugs: Ipratropium & Tiotropium