Allergic Asthma

An allergic asthma. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung airways. It symptoms are aggravated by exposure to an allergen (eg dust, mold, pollen, allergens, mites and animal dander) to which the patient has been sensitized.

A simple sneeze can trigger allergic asthma or a cough can lead to this too.

What are the symptoms of allergic asthma?

Symptoms of allergic and nonallergic asthma are the same. They include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing and chest tightness. These symptoms are often caused by an identifiable trigger.

What factors can cause or trigger allergic asthma?

A family history of allergies is the most important predictor of whether a person will develop asthma. environmental substances (allergens) can trigger an exacerbation - or attack - in patients with allergic asthma.

The allergens are tree, grass and weed pollen and mold, animal dander, dust mites and cockroach droppings. Asthma attacks can be triggered by viral infections, exercise, cold air and non-specific irritants.

How many people suffer from allergic asthma?

Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, of the 17 million asthmatics in the United States, 10 million euros (about 60 per cent) have allergic asthma. Three million children and 7 million are adults.

What is the relationship between allergies and allergic asthma?

Most people with asthma also suffer from other allergic disorders. In fact, the search for the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that at least 70 percent of asthmatics also suffer from allergic rhinitis or "hay fever".

nasal allergies and allergic asthma are both triggered by exposure to allergens, to launch a series of events that result in tightening of the airways, swelling of the lining of the airways, nose and eyes, and mucus production.

What IgE and why is it important in allergic asthma?

IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody in the human immune system plays an essential role in the allergic process.

When an individual is sensitized to an allergen, he or she produces IgE antibodies directed against these allergens. The IgE antibody attaches to mast cells.

When the individual is exposed to the same allergen again, the allergen binds to IgE on mast cells leading to release substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.

What treatments are available for people suffering from allergic asthma?

It is important for people with asthma to seek treatment. First, patients are evaluated to identify their specific allergic triggers and a program of avoidance of allergens is recommended.

Asthma is treated with medications, including anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers, which reduce inflammation in the lungs and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms.

desensitization, also known as allergy injections cons, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization.

A new medication under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), known as anti-IgE, focuses on short-circuiting the allergic reaction in the body before it even begins.

anti-IgE therapy stops the allergic reaction before it starts, allowing the patient to avoid allergy symptoms that often trigger an asthma attack or lead to the development of seizures or asthma.

Researchers are looking for targets for new forms of treatment. Future therapies may focus on cytokines, substances that maintain the chronic inflammation responsible for asthma.

Further research could also lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory, which may engage.