Asthma and Pollen Season: Acting Early Protects Children
In such cases, a pulmonologist should be consulted immediately, advised the Austrian Society for Pneumology (ÖGP) on Monday in light of World Asthma Day on May 6. Especially when symptoms occur in children, quick action is important. Bronchial asthma is the most common lung disease in children, it was emphasized.
Chronic Inflammatory Reaction
In asthma, there is a chronic inflammatory reaction of the bronchi, triggered by allergies, smoking, or air pollutants, leading to the narrowing of the bronchi, known as airway obstruction. Early diagnosis and rapid initiation of therapy are important for the current health status of children, but also for the further development of the lungs and thus lung health in adulthood, it was stated in the release. In Austria, nearly five percent of adults and ten percent of children suffer from bronchial asthma, with a rising trend.
Häufige Fragen zu Asthma bronchiale bei Kindern und Erwachsenen
Typische Hinweise sind Husten, pfeifende Atmung und gelegentliche Atemnot – besonders bei Kindern sollte ärztlicher Rat eingeholt werden.
Die Diagnose beginnt mit einer Lungenfunktionsprüfung. Weitere Methoden sind Allergietests, ein Differentialblutbild und die Messung von Stickoxid in der Ausatemluft.
Standard ist die Kombination aus entzündungshemmendem und bronchienerweiterndem Medikament per Inhalator. Bei schwerem Asthma können Biologika eingesetzt werden.
Rund fünf Prozent der Erwachsenen und zehn Prozent der Kinder in Österreich leiden an Asthma, mit steigender Tendenz.
Eine rasche Diagnose und Therapie sind entscheidend für die gesunde Lungenentwicklung im Kindesalter und die spätere Lungengesundheit im Erwachsenenalter.
"As soon as a patient describes symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath, one must think of asthma and start the diagnostic chain," explained the physician Felix Wantke from the ÖGP. "First, lung function is tested to see if the bronchi are narrowed. However, since asthma is a paroxysmal disease, lung function does not have to be automatically restricted. Therefore, in cases of strong suspicion of asthma, asthma therapy is started in any case. If shortness of breath and coughing disappear as a result, the diagnosis is confirmed." Other pillars of asthma diagnostics include allergy testing, a differential blood count, and the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air.
Bronchial asthma is generally easy to treat
Bronchial asthma is generally easy to treat. Modern asthma therapy consists of an anti-inflammatory and a bronchodilator medication. Ideally, both substances are combined in one inhaler, which should be inhaled regularly and as needed. "Inhalation is an effective way to deliver a medication directly to where it needs to work: in the lungs or airways," emphasized Wantke, who heads the Floridsdorf Allergy Center in Vienna.
People suffering from allergic asthma should avoid contact with triggers if possible. "However, this is not always possible. Allergic asthmatics should therefore also receive specific immunotherapy (SIT)," advises Wantke. For severe asthma, five biologics are now available, which are characterized by their high efficacy and very good tolerability. "Taking cortisone tablets is now out," reported the lung specialist.
(APA/Red)
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