Asthma is a condition of chronic lung inflammation and airway obstruction, with episodes of worsening symptoms called exacerbations that are triggered by several factors, such as colds, exercise and cigarette smoke. Allergic or extrinsic asthma refers to a condition in which allergies trigger the symptoms of asthma. Treatment is aimed at preventing asthma exacerbation and controlling the symptoms during an asthma attack.
Significance
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma, affecting close to half of all asthma sufferers, including about 2.5 million children under the age of 18. The triggers of allergic asthma include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold and cockroaches.
Symptoms
The symptoms of asthma are the same for both extrinsic, or allergic, asthma and intrinsic asthma. These include cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Wheezing is a high-pitched noise that the air makes as it tries to move through the narrowed and inflamed airways during an asthma attack. Treatment is geared towards improvement of these symptoms.
Types
The treatment for an acute exacerbation of allergic asthma includes medicines to reduce the inflammation and to open up the narrowed airways, therefore decreasing the wheezing and respiratory distress. Albuterol is an inhaled medicine that works by relaxing the muscles surrounding the airways, causing them to open up and improving air exchange. Steroids are used for their anti-inflammatory effect, decreasing the inflammation triggered by allergies and also helping open up the airways.
Prevention/Solution
The best strategy to prevent an asthma exacerbation is control of its triggers. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, patients with allergic asthma should limit their exposure to allergens, cigarette smoke and other pollutants that could trigger an asthma attack. Clean dwellings periodically, vacuuming carpets often to decrease dust mites and insect dander. Exposure to pets should be limited. Medications that control allergy symptoms, like antihistamines, also play an important role in the prevention of allergic asthma attacks.
Warning
A person with allergies can have a severe anaphylactic or allergic reaction that mimics the symptoms of an asthma attack. In fact, the symptoms of an allergic reaction and an asthma attack can be very similar, with cough, wheezing and respiratory distress. People suffering an allergic reaction usually have some type of skin manifestation, like hives, which people with asthma usually do not have. The distinction is important, as the initial treatment for each condition can vary, and delaying the diagnosis of a severe allergic reaction can be fatal.
