Approach to asthma in adults : review

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes hyper-responsiveness of the bronchial tree, with reversible airflow obstruction. The condition places a significant burden on our healthcare system. Chronic asthma can cause remodelling of the airway. Patients suffering from asthma should be aware...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African family practice 2015-07, Vol.57 (4), p.31-36
Main Authors: Truter, A., Schellack, N., Ntuli, P.N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asthma
B2 agonist
Bronchodilator
Inhaled corticosteroid
LABA
Peak expiratory flow
SABA
Spirometry
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Summary:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes hyper-responsiveness of the bronchial tree, with reversible airflow obstruction. The condition places a significant burden on our healthcare system. Chronic asthma can cause remodelling of the airway. Patients suffering from asthma should be aware of its signs and symptoms, as well as factors that can precipitate an asthmatic attack. Asthma is mostly classified as either acute or chronic. The diagnosis of asthma is based on identification of both a characteristic pattern of respiratory symptoms and variable expiratory airflow limitation. Treatment is based on how the patient presents, and includes bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids and mast cell stabilisers. This article provides an overview of the diagnosis, characterisation and treatment of asthma.
ISSN:2078-6190
2078-6204