Chemical burns are not uncommon in the home, at school and workplace. Knowing how to treat such burns effectively and quickly is the key to minimizing damage to the patient. The following methods are generally accepted as the correct treatment in an emergency involving chemical spills.
Although most people who suffer chemical burns do not need to be admitted to hospital there are exceptions. If a patient is suffering any of the following symptoms the emergency services should be called immediately. Lay the person down and continue first aid until help arrives.
Shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness if the injury is severe.
Less severe symptoms of chemical burns include irritation and redness of the skin, pain or numbness in the affected area, headaches and coughing. The coughing may be the onset of more severe trauma and should be watched carefully whilst treating the patient. If the chemical has affected the eyes the patient may experience loss of vision.
The first action should be to get the patient and yourself away from the area of the spill. Reassure the victim and try to keep them calm.
As quickly as possible, taking care not to make contact with the chemical, remove any clothing around the affected area.
Flush the affected area with copious amounts of tepid water. During the process it is important to ensure that none of the water runs off onto other, unaffected parts of the body. Continue cleaning the burn in this manner for at least 20 minutes.
Any collections of solid matter can be gently removed by brushing them away. If they do not readily fall away from the affected area do not continue attempts to remove them. Seek medical advice.
Washing chemicals from the eye can be difficult but the water method is the most effective. If possible, standing the patient under a running showerhead is the simplest way to rinse the eyes. An eyebath repeatedly filled and applied is also useful. Standing at a sink and repeatedly flushing the eyes by hand is the alternative if none of the above are viable options in a given situation.
Once thoroughly rinsed, wounds can be bandaged and it is advisable to seek the advice of your family doctor as soon as you can. A professional assessment will prevent any underlying problems or points missed during initial treatment from developing into later problems.
In severe cases where hospital treatment is required the treatment is very similar but is likely to include the intravenous delivery of drugs and fluids to stabilize the patient. Antibiotics are also likely to be given. Antibiotics may also be needed in less severe cases and the family doctor will give advice on this.
First aid treatment for closed wounds
When considering a wound, there are many types of it and some of the wounds are likely to occur underneath the skin with an intact overlying skin. These wounds which does not expose to the outside environment, but are present underneath the skin is known as ‘closed wounds’ as opposed to the ‘open wounds’ that will expose the underlying soft tissues and sometimes bones to the external environment. In such instances, the damage done to the soft tissues as well as the blood vessels will go unnoticed and at times if enough vigilance is not paid, undiagnosed as well.
In most instances, closed wounds will be the result of blunt trauma such as a ‘seat belt injury’ during a car accident, assault by a stick or else using any other blunt object or even by a blow during a boxing fight…etc. Such high intensity impact will give rise to a bursting of the blood vessels underneath that portion of the skin and due to the pressure being distributed to a wider area than in a sharp injury; the overlying skin would be kept intact, although it might sustain bruises. But, there will be certain characteristics that can be seen in a site with a closed wound and some of these would be,
*Discoloration of the overlying skin : At times, the skin would initially become bluish in color and will later turn much lighter into a yellowish green area. Gradually the color will become normal and the underlying mechanism for this color change would be the bleeding that occurs underneath the skin which forms a hematoma. Due to bodies mechanism of re-absorbing the blood, such clots will gradually recede and will disappear totally.
*Pain : Usually, a close wound will be painful and it may be due to the underlying soft tissue damage as well as the stretching that occurs due to the hematoma formation.
*Swelling : Due to bleeding and other extravasations takes place in to a enclosed space, there is a tendency to develop a swelling at the wound site.
When considering these signs, it is evident that a person who provides first aid could only do very few, when it comes to a closed wound. As the overlying skin is intact, it is unlikely that the trauma exerted over the site would be enough to cause a life threatening injury, but, taking chances would not be the best idea when you can’t see the wound.
Thus, following measures need to be taken in giving first aid to a victim of a closed wound.
*Application of direct pressure, preferably with ice wrapped in a cloth, for several minutes, in order to arrest the bleeding as well as to reduce the swelling. Two mechanisms will act on providing this support and the coldness of the ice making the blood vessels constrict as well as the pressure occluding damaged blood vessels as well as soft tissues are the two main mechanisms.
*Elevation of the affected region will also support in reducing the pressure as well as the re-absorption process and it should be practiced as and when appropriate.
Apart from these measures, if the victim is not alert, basic life support measures may need to be adopted in few instances.
In most instances, closed wounds will be the result of blunt trauma such as a ‘seat belt injury’ during a car accident, assault by a stick or else using any other blunt object or even by a blow during a boxing fight…etc. Such high intensity impact will give rise to a bursting of the blood vessels underneath that portion of the skin and due to the pressure being distributed to a wider area than in a sharp injury; the overlying skin would be kept intact, although it might sustain bruises. But, there will be certain characteristics that can be seen in a site with a closed wound and some of these would be,
*Discoloration of the overlying skin : At times, the skin would initially become bluish in color and will later turn much lighter into a yellowish green area. Gradually the color will become normal and the underlying mechanism for this color change would be the bleeding that occurs underneath the skin which forms a hematoma. Due to bodies mechanism of re-absorbing the blood, such clots will gradually recede and will disappear totally.
*Pain : Usually, a close wound will be painful and it may be due to the underlying soft tissue damage as well as the stretching that occurs due to the hematoma formation.
*Swelling : Due to bleeding and other extravasations takes place in to a enclosed space, there is a tendency to develop a swelling at the wound site.
When considering these signs, it is evident that a person who provides first aid could only do very few, when it comes to a closed wound. As the overlying skin is intact, it is unlikely that the trauma exerted over the site would be enough to cause a life threatening injury, but, taking chances would not be the best idea when you can’t see the wound.
Thus, following measures need to be taken in giving first aid to a victim of a closed wound.
*Application of direct pressure, preferably with ice wrapped in a cloth, for several minutes, in order to arrest the bleeding as well as to reduce the swelling. Two mechanisms will act on providing this support and the coldness of the ice making the blood vessels constrict as well as the pressure occluding damaged blood vessels as well as soft tissues are the two main mechanisms.
*Elevation of the affected region will also support in reducing the pressure as well as the re-absorption process and it should be practiced as and when appropriate.
Apart from these measures, if the victim is not alert, basic life support measures may need to be adopted in few instances.
Asthma control test guides asthma management strategies
Asthma Control Test
This Asthma control test is the most efficient tool to evaluate your control over asthma as determined by the Global Initiative program for asthma (GINA) and by GOAL (Gaining Optimal Asthma Control).
The test consists of 5 questions that will help you evaluate your control over asthma according to the severity of the symptoms.
Just answer these simple questions:
Write down the number for the answer you choose for each question. Answer as honestly as possible. This will help you and your doctor know if your asthma is under control. When you finish answering the questions add the numbers for the answers you chose:
1.In the last 4 weeks, how frequently did your asthma keep you from doing your daily chores?
1 Always
2 Frequently
3 Sometimes
4 Almost never
5 Never
2.In the last 4 weeks, how frequently did you feel you couldn't breathe?
1 More than once a day
2 Once a day
3 Three to six times a day
4 One to two times a week
5 Never
3.In the last 4 weeks, how often did your asthma symptoms, wheezing, coughing, chest pain or other wake you up at night or earlier than usual?
1 Four or more nights a week
2 Two to three nights a week
3 Once a week
4 Once or twice a week
5 Never
4.In the last 4 weeks how often did you use your inhaler or nebulizer?
1 three or more times a day
2 once or twice a day
3 2 or 3 times a day
4 One to four times a week
5 Never
5.How would you rate your asthma control in the last 4 weeks?
1 Not under control
2 Poorly controlled
3 Some control
4 Well controlled
5 Completely under control
In order to know what your answers mean read the following information.
Results 25- Congratulations!
You have reached total control of your asthma in the last 4 weeks. You haven't had symptoms or limitations related to your asthma. Consult your doctor only if you see changes
Results 20-24 Close to your goal
Your asthma could be well under control but not entirely in the last four weeks. Your doctor can help you achieve total control
Results: Less than 20 Far from your goal
Your asthma has not been under control in the last 4 weeks. Your doctor can help you design a plan of action to help you keep your asthma under control
This Asthma control test is the most efficient tool to evaluate your control over asthma as determined by the Global Initiative program for asthma (GINA) and by GOAL (Gaining Optimal Asthma Control).
The test consists of 5 questions that will help you evaluate your control over asthma according to the severity of the symptoms.
Just answer these simple questions:
Write down the number for the answer you choose for each question. Answer as honestly as possible. This will help you and your doctor know if your asthma is under control. When you finish answering the questions add the numbers for the answers you chose:
1.In the last 4 weeks, how frequently did your asthma keep you from doing your daily chores?
1 Always
2 Frequently
3 Sometimes
4 Almost never
5 Never
2.In the last 4 weeks, how frequently did you feel you couldn't breathe?
1 More than once a day
2 Once a day
3 Three to six times a day
4 One to two times a week
5 Never
3.In the last 4 weeks, how often did your asthma symptoms, wheezing, coughing, chest pain or other wake you up at night or earlier than usual?
1 Four or more nights a week
2 Two to three nights a week
3 Once a week
4 Once or twice a week
5 Never
4.In the last 4 weeks how often did you use your inhaler or nebulizer?
1 three or more times a day
2 once or twice a day
3 2 or 3 times a day
4 One to four times a week
5 Never
5.How would you rate your asthma control in the last 4 weeks?
1 Not under control
2 Poorly controlled
3 Some control
4 Well controlled
5 Completely under control
In order to know what your answers mean read the following information.
Results 25- Congratulations!
You have reached total control of your asthma in the last 4 weeks. You haven't had symptoms or limitations related to your asthma. Consult your doctor only if you see changes
Results 20-24 Close to your goal
Your asthma could be well under control but not entirely in the last four weeks. Your doctor can help you achieve total control
Results: Less than 20 Far from your goal
Your asthma has not been under control in the last 4 weeks. Your doctor can help you design a plan of action to help you keep your asthma under control
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory pulmonary disorder that is characterized by reversible obstruction of the airways.
Asthma is one of the most common breathing disorders out there. It can be very minor, or very dangerous, depending on the person. Asthma is different for everyone that has it. There are different side effects, and different symptoms, for each and every person that has been diagnosed with this disorder. People, over time, have thought up of myths about asthma. Most of which are untrue by far.
Myth #1:Smoking does not trigger asthma
Indeed It does, smoking is one of the things that can start up asthma and allergies due to all the chemicals and toxins inside cigarettes, and cigars. So if someone in your household, or someone close by to you, has asthma, limit the smoking, or if possible cancel out the smoking from your every day life, it's a lot better for the smoker and the other people being affected.
Myth #2:Asthma can be cured
No, asthma cannot be cured, it's always with you, no matter what. There is no cure, however there is medicine that can help lessen the chance of an asthma attack, and make asthma less hard on you and your body.
Myth #3:Certain dogs are better in a household with people with animals
This is certainly incorrect. Every dog has the same type of saliva, dandruff, and urine. That is what causes allergies, the protiens in those three things from dogs, not the pet hair. So no matter what breed of dog you have, none have different asthma lessoning affects.
Myth #4:You can grow out of asthma
No, you can't grow out of asthma, it's a life-long illness, so it's definitely something that will stick with you through life. Sure, it can become inactive, at any point in time, but it will always still be there. As a matter of fact, about 50% of asthma becomes inactive, if diagnosed as a child. Keep in mind that asthma can reoccur at any time in your adult life, and become active again.
Myth #5: Asthma is an emotional illness
Since asthma is a problem that involves your airways to become harder for the oxygen to get through, its not so much emotional as it is physical. However, emotional stress could make an asthma attack worse.
Unfortunately, these are just five of the many myths and truths about asthma, just think about how much more there are out there.Hopefully just by reading these it will inform you about how serious asthma really is. Even though there are many people diagnosed with asthma, it can still be deadly.
Asthma is one of the most common breathing disorders out there. It can be very minor, or very dangerous, depending on the person. Asthma is different for everyone that has it. There are different side effects, and different symptoms, for each and every person that has been diagnosed with this disorder. People, over time, have thought up of myths about asthma. Most of which are untrue by far.
Myth #1:Smoking does not trigger asthma
Indeed It does, smoking is one of the things that can start up asthma and allergies due to all the chemicals and toxins inside cigarettes, and cigars. So if someone in your household, or someone close by to you, has asthma, limit the smoking, or if possible cancel out the smoking from your every day life, it's a lot better for the smoker and the other people being affected.
Myth #2:Asthma can be cured
No, asthma cannot be cured, it's always with you, no matter what. There is no cure, however there is medicine that can help lessen the chance of an asthma attack, and make asthma less hard on you and your body.
Myth #3:Certain dogs are better in a household with people with animals
This is certainly incorrect. Every dog has the same type of saliva, dandruff, and urine. That is what causes allergies, the protiens in those three things from dogs, not the pet hair. So no matter what breed of dog you have, none have different asthma lessoning affects.
Myth #4:You can grow out of asthma
No, you can't grow out of asthma, it's a life-long illness, so it's definitely something that will stick with you through life. Sure, it can become inactive, at any point in time, but it will always still be there. As a matter of fact, about 50% of asthma becomes inactive, if diagnosed as a child. Keep in mind that asthma can reoccur at any time in your adult life, and become active again.
Myth #5: Asthma is an emotional illness
Since asthma is a problem that involves your airways to become harder for the oxygen to get through, its not so much emotional as it is physical. However, emotional stress could make an asthma attack worse.
Unfortunately, these are just five of the many myths and truths about asthma, just think about how much more there are out there.Hopefully just by reading these it will inform you about how serious asthma really is. Even though there are many people diagnosed with asthma, it can still be deadly.
The pathophysiology of asthma
Asthma is one of the most persistent respiratory diseases, characterised by frequent episodes of cough and breathlessness that may range from mild and tolerable to life threatening in severity. It cannot usually be cured, yet it is possible to live a healthy life by effectively managing it with the help of expert advice, medicines and knowledge.
Knowing about asthma and its pathophysiology, i.e.. how it happens can help patients and their attendants prevent frequent flaring up of asthma
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ASTHMA
Asthma results from a combination of multiple factors. Those which play the most important role in the development of this disease are hypersensitivity or allergy, inflammation of airways, excess secretion of mucus and bronchial spasm.
HYPERSENSITIVITY OF AIRWAYS
Perhaps the most characteristic feature of an asthmatic patient is the hypersensitivity of his smaller airways, also called 'bronchioles' to any irritant. Even in normal people, body has its own ways of responding to an external particle that might reach these airways. However, in case of asthmatics, this reaction of any external particle or irritant is highly exaggerated. So the walls of the bronchioles (airways) respond even to harmless particles in such a way that they lead to cough and suffocation.
On being exposed an irritant, the mucosal surface of the bronchioles reacts very strongly. The 'mast cells' in the epithelium of the mucosa secrete 'lymphokines' and 'cytokines' - substances that attract white blood cells like lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages to protect the body from the threat posed by this irritant particle. These cells come and secrete various kinds of enzymes that would usually kill bacteria and protect the body from it. Only in this case, the whole exercise is often futile, as there may not be any threat from this external particle at all.
ALLERGY
Allergy is nothing but the hypersensitivity of the body to certain external material. Many patients of asthma are also allergic to many other things, and this tendency is also seen in their body in other forms. Asthma is often linked with allergy - both having similar pathophysiology.
INFLAMMATION OF AIRWAYS
The response of the airways and attracting lymphocytes and macrophages leads to secretion of digestive enzymes which create 'inflammation' or swelling of the bronchial mucosa. The collection of fluids and enzymes and damaged cells accumulate and are slowly digested by the body with the help of macrophages - all this leads to swelling and thickening of the surface layer of airways.
EXCESS SECRETION OF MUCUS
The excess secretion of mucus results from the irritation caused by the hyper-responsiveness to irritants, and it is the body's attempt to clear the irritant. However, instead of helping in clearing, it actually leads to flooding of airways. Too much of mucus blocks the air passage itself and leads to cough and suffocation.
BRONCHOSPASM
The smaller airways have a thin layer of muscle tissue around them. The irritation of the bronchial mucosa and its hypersensitivity also leads to contraction of this layer of muscles thereby causing a spasm of the airway that makes the blockage of the air passage that much more severe. Bronchospasm makes matters much worse.
PRECIPITATING & TRIGGERING EVENTS
Often an asthmatic attack is triggered by exposure to a substance to which the person is allergic or hypersensitive. Many a times, it may also be triggered off by a respiratory infection or an attack of flu, that leads to bronchial mucosal reaction thereby triggering the whole chain of events that results in blocking of the air passages. Other factors that can contribute include smoking, air pollution and excessive weight.
SUMMARY
Thus, asthma results from a complex mechanism that involves a defect in body's response to external material as well as the presence of a trigger. Genetic factors play an important role, as there is a genetic predisposition for allergies that makes many patients of asthma vulnerable. At the same time, knowing how asthma actually happens can help one deal with it in a more realistic way and also take the necessary precautions like avoiding triggers of allergy and infection that can precipitate asthma.
Knowing about asthma and its pathophysiology, i.e.. how it happens can help patients and their attendants prevent frequent flaring up of asthma
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ASTHMA
Asthma results from a combination of multiple factors. Those which play the most important role in the development of this disease are hypersensitivity or allergy, inflammation of airways, excess secretion of mucus and bronchial spasm.
HYPERSENSITIVITY OF AIRWAYS
Perhaps the most characteristic feature of an asthmatic patient is the hypersensitivity of his smaller airways, also called 'bronchioles' to any irritant. Even in normal people, body has its own ways of responding to an external particle that might reach these airways. However, in case of asthmatics, this reaction of any external particle or irritant is highly exaggerated. So the walls of the bronchioles (airways) respond even to harmless particles in such a way that they lead to cough and suffocation.
On being exposed an irritant, the mucosal surface of the bronchioles reacts very strongly. The 'mast cells' in the epithelium of the mucosa secrete 'lymphokines' and 'cytokines' - substances that attract white blood cells like lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages to protect the body from the threat posed by this irritant particle. These cells come and secrete various kinds of enzymes that would usually kill bacteria and protect the body from it. Only in this case, the whole exercise is often futile, as there may not be any threat from this external particle at all.
ALLERGY
Allergy is nothing but the hypersensitivity of the body to certain external material. Many patients of asthma are also allergic to many other things, and this tendency is also seen in their body in other forms. Asthma is often linked with allergy - both having similar pathophysiology.
INFLAMMATION OF AIRWAYS
The response of the airways and attracting lymphocytes and macrophages leads to secretion of digestive enzymes which create 'inflammation' or swelling of the bronchial mucosa. The collection of fluids and enzymes and damaged cells accumulate and are slowly digested by the body with the help of macrophages - all this leads to swelling and thickening of the surface layer of airways.
EXCESS SECRETION OF MUCUS
The excess secretion of mucus results from the irritation caused by the hyper-responsiveness to irritants, and it is the body's attempt to clear the irritant. However, instead of helping in clearing, it actually leads to flooding of airways. Too much of mucus blocks the air passage itself and leads to cough and suffocation.
BRONCHOSPASM
The smaller airways have a thin layer of muscle tissue around them. The irritation of the bronchial mucosa and its hypersensitivity also leads to contraction of this layer of muscles thereby causing a spasm of the airway that makes the blockage of the air passage that much more severe. Bronchospasm makes matters much worse.
PRECIPITATING & TRIGGERING EVENTS
Often an asthmatic attack is triggered by exposure to a substance to which the person is allergic or hypersensitive. Many a times, it may also be triggered off by a respiratory infection or an attack of flu, that leads to bronchial mucosal reaction thereby triggering the whole chain of events that results in blocking of the air passages. Other factors that can contribute include smoking, air pollution and excessive weight.
SUMMARY
Thus, asthma results from a complex mechanism that involves a defect in body's response to external material as well as the presence of a trigger. Genetic factors play an important role, as there is a genetic predisposition for allergies that makes many patients of asthma vulnerable. At the same time, knowing how asthma actually happens can help one deal with it in a more realistic way and also take the necessary precautions like avoiding triggers of allergy and infection that can precipitate asthma.
How to tell if my asthma is getting worse
How to tell if my asthma is getting worse is something every asthmatic probably wonders about.
The first thing to know is when your asthma is getting worse you will have more coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing in general. If this happens on a regular basis you should be seen by your doctor and given a cortsteriod medication that will help keep your airways open for 12 hours. If taking a cortsteriod and your symptoms are still recurring, then you should have a peak flow meter.
A peak flow meter is an invaluable tool for asthmatics, it will help you know how your breathing is and if your asthma is getting worse. It measures the air flow forced into it. As you record your measurements you will know where to set the 3 bars on it, a green, yellow and red. When your measurement is in the green zone you are breathing at your best. Yellow is a caution zone, it means you should take measures like using your inhaler or nebulizer to help you breathe better. The red zone is your danger zone and if you have used your inhaler and nebulizer are having real trouble breathing then you need to seek medical help immediately. If you are in the yellow zone and you cannot get relief you should also seek medical help immediately. It is too easy to go from one zone to another and it happens fast that ones life can be in danger, so if you feel you have done all you can to breathe, get to the emergency room fast.
It is important to remember asthma is a killer, too many people I know have died because of an asthma attack not to take the signs of it getting worse seriously.
Besides a peak flow meter, you should be in touch with your body, know when you feel you are straining to breathe, or if you are wheezing, coughing more than you normally are for these are signs your asthma is getting worse.
Breathlessness, having trouble breathing when exercising, walking or daily chores are signs also your asthma is not controlled or getting worse. Along with headaches, dizziness and sometimes chest pains in the bronchial area are signs of worsening asthma. These signs should not be overlooked but paid attention to.
Mucous congestion being coughed up, is a sign your airways are plugged up and the body is getting rid of, so it is also a sign of your asthma getting worse. Drinking plenty of water will help thin the congestion making it easier for the body to cough it up. A vaporizer or a steam unit will also help clear up that congestion and tightness in the chest you may feel because of it.
It is important to discuss with your doctor how to know when your asthma is taking a turn for the worse so you will know what to expect and what you need to do for yourself when it does begin to get worse.
Staying calm during an asthma attack is important, the more one tenses up the harder it is to breathe so reamain calm, breathe through your mouth with your lips pursed this will help you breathe better and calm yourself.
The first thing to know is when your asthma is getting worse you will have more coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing in general. If this happens on a regular basis you should be seen by your doctor and given a cortsteriod medication that will help keep your airways open for 12 hours. If taking a cortsteriod and your symptoms are still recurring, then you should have a peak flow meter.
A peak flow meter is an invaluable tool for asthmatics, it will help you know how your breathing is and if your asthma is getting worse. It measures the air flow forced into it. As you record your measurements you will know where to set the 3 bars on it, a green, yellow and red. When your measurement is in the green zone you are breathing at your best. Yellow is a caution zone, it means you should take measures like using your inhaler or nebulizer to help you breathe better. The red zone is your danger zone and if you have used your inhaler and nebulizer are having real trouble breathing then you need to seek medical help immediately. If you are in the yellow zone and you cannot get relief you should also seek medical help immediately. It is too easy to go from one zone to another and it happens fast that ones life can be in danger, so if you feel you have done all you can to breathe, get to the emergency room fast.
It is important to remember asthma is a killer, too many people I know have died because of an asthma attack not to take the signs of it getting worse seriously.
Besides a peak flow meter, you should be in touch with your body, know when you feel you are straining to breathe, or if you are wheezing, coughing more than you normally are for these are signs your asthma is getting worse.
Breathlessness, having trouble breathing when exercising, walking or daily chores are signs also your asthma is not controlled or getting worse. Along with headaches, dizziness and sometimes chest pains in the bronchial area are signs of worsening asthma. These signs should not be overlooked but paid attention to.
Mucous congestion being coughed up, is a sign your airways are plugged up and the body is getting rid of, so it is also a sign of your asthma getting worse. Drinking plenty of water will help thin the congestion making it easier for the body to cough it up. A vaporizer or a steam unit will also help clear up that congestion and tightness in the chest you may feel because of it.
It is important to discuss with your doctor how to know when your asthma is taking a turn for the worse so you will know what to expect and what you need to do for yourself when it does begin to get worse.
Staying calm during an asthma attack is important, the more one tenses up the harder it is to breathe so reamain calm, breathe through your mouth with your lips pursed this will help you breathe better and calm yourself.
The epidemiology of asthma
Epidemiology, "the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency" (Hennekens, C. 1987: 3), encompasses three major components that are vital to the understanding of any medical condition. These three major components distribution, determinants and frequency emphasise that within the population, disease do not occur at random and they have causal and preventive factors that can be identified (Hennekens, C. 1987: 3). This is vital in the study of asthma.
Asthma, by definition, is "a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder characterized by hyperactive airways, leading to episodic, reversible bronchoconstriction, owing to increased responsiveness of the trancheobronchial tree to various stimuli" (Cotran, R. 1999: 712). As one of the top national health priority areas, there has been much advances in our current understanding of asthma. However, there is still much we don't know. For instance, despite the definition above, it has been long debated that asthma is a syndrome as opposed to a disease, meaning that it is actually a group of disorders. Furthermore, although treatments such as inhalers are available, medical professionals have yet to discover a cure for asthma. Thus, in order to further our understanding of asthma, it is important to first examine the epidemiology of asthma.
As the majority of the population would know, asthma is a very common disease, particularly in childhood, creating a massive burden on a country's health system. However, if one requests statistics to discuss the epidemiology of asthma, it is rather difficult to arrive at a concrete number as the identification of patients suffering from asthma is rather ambiguous. Firstly, while it is easy to determine that a child frequently suffering from wheezes and constantly requires hospitalisation as an asthmatic, the majority of the cases lie between the two extremes. In comparing the prevalence of asthma between countries, research is often conducted with the definition being "recent wheezes" (Jalaludin, B.B. 2001: 110). It is with this definition in mind as we examine the epidemiology of asthma.
The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood discover that the highest prevalence of wheezes, at approximately 30%, within children is in developed nations such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia,
Ireland and New Zealand. On the other side of the spectrum, countries with the lowest prevalence of wheezes are in developing nations such as China
and India. This finding has prompted scientists to propose the hygiene hypothesis which proposes that children growing up in a clean environment without exposure to environmental allergens are more likely to develop asthma than kids growing up in a "dirtier" environment.
Recent trends have shown a growing rise in the incidence of asthma over the past decade or so. A close examination on Victoria, for example, shows an increase of 141% of the last 26 years (Jalaludin, B.B.). Similar trends are seen in other developed nations. Although the prevalence of asthma in on the increase, the number of deaths each year contributed to asthma has fallen as scientists develop a better understanding of the condition. They've found out that although bronchodilators, such as salbutamol, should be used during an asthma attack, it is vital for the patient's health to continually and periodically use glucocorticosteroids as a preventive therapy. This discovery has managed to reduce the number of deaths by up to 80%.
In conclusion, examination of the epidemiology of asthma reveals many correlations between the disease itself and its various possible causes, some still yet to be explored. While some findings such as the hygiene hypothesis are merely hypotheses that require further research and understanding, other discoveries have led to monumental improvements in the current treatment for asthma. Thus, while the epidemiology of asthma seems at times to be only a bunch of numbers, it is important for asthma research.
Asthma, by definition, is "a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder characterized by hyperactive airways, leading to episodic, reversible bronchoconstriction, owing to increased responsiveness of the trancheobronchial tree to various stimuli" (Cotran, R. 1999: 712). As one of the top national health priority areas, there has been much advances in our current understanding of asthma. However, there is still much we don't know. For instance, despite the definition above, it has been long debated that asthma is a syndrome as opposed to a disease, meaning that it is actually a group of disorders. Furthermore, although treatments such as inhalers are available, medical professionals have yet to discover a cure for asthma. Thus, in order to further our understanding of asthma, it is important to first examine the epidemiology of asthma.
As the majority of the population would know, asthma is a very common disease, particularly in childhood, creating a massive burden on a country's health system. However, if one requests statistics to discuss the epidemiology of asthma, it is rather difficult to arrive at a concrete number as the identification of patients suffering from asthma is rather ambiguous. Firstly, while it is easy to determine that a child frequently suffering from wheezes and constantly requires hospitalisation as an asthmatic, the majority of the cases lie between the two extremes. In comparing the prevalence of asthma between countries, research is often conducted with the definition being "recent wheezes" (Jalaludin, B.B. 2001: 110). It is with this definition in mind as we examine the epidemiology of asthma.
The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood discover that the highest prevalence of wheezes, at approximately 30%, within children is in developed nations such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia,
Ireland and New Zealand. On the other side of the spectrum, countries with the lowest prevalence of wheezes are in developing nations such as China
and India. This finding has prompted scientists to propose the hygiene hypothesis which proposes that children growing up in a clean environment without exposure to environmental allergens are more likely to develop asthma than kids growing up in a "dirtier" environment.
Recent trends have shown a growing rise in the incidence of asthma over the past decade or so. A close examination on Victoria, for example, shows an increase of 141% of the last 26 years (Jalaludin, B.B.). Similar trends are seen in other developed nations. Although the prevalence of asthma in on the increase, the number of deaths each year contributed to asthma has fallen as scientists develop a better understanding of the condition. They've found out that although bronchodilators, such as salbutamol, should be used during an asthma attack, it is vital for the patient's health to continually and periodically use glucocorticosteroids as a preventive therapy. This discovery has managed to reduce the number of deaths by up to 80%.
In conclusion, examination of the epidemiology of asthma reveals many correlations between the disease itself and its various possible causes, some still yet to be explored. While some findings such as the hygiene hypothesis are merely hypotheses that require further research and understanding, other discoveries have led to monumental improvements in the current treatment for asthma. Thus, while the epidemiology of asthma seems at times to be only a bunch of numbers, it is important for asthma research.
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