Asthma and treatment of asthma
A condition marked by widespread narrowing of the bronchial airways, which changes in severity over short periods of time (either spontaneously or under treatment) and leads to cough, wheezing, and difficulty in breathing.
Bronchial asthma may be precipitated by exposure to one or more of a wide range of stimuli, including allergens, drugs (such as aspirin and other NSAIDs), exertion, emotion, infections, and air pollution.
Treatment of asthma is with sympathomimetic drugs that stimulate beta receptors, such as salbutamol or terbutaline, with or without corticosteroids (such as beclornethasone (beclometasone) dipropionate and budesonide); all these drugs are usually administered via aerosol or dry-powder inhalers, or – if the condition is more severe – via a nebulizer.
Other drugs that can be used for the prevention of asthmatic attacks include sodium cromoglycate (cromoglicate) or nedocromil, theophylime, the antimuscarinic drugs oxitropium bromide or ipratropium bromide, and the leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Oral corticosteroids are reserved for those patients who fail to respond adequately to these measures. Severe asthmatic attacks may need large doses of oral corticosteroids (such as prednisolone).