Asthma is a common condition that affects more than 10% of the population. Asthma is defined as reversible airway obstruction. It is caused by narrowing of the lower airways due to inflammation, and is therefore a disease of airway inflammation. Asthma patients might be normal most of the time, but when the disease exacerbates, the patient would cough, wheeze, and feel tight in the chest and short of breath.
Asthmatic tendency is genetically determined, but the disease is triggered by external factors. Asthma most commonly starts during childhood, and the two most common causes are allergy and infection. Before the age of three, asthma is more commonly caused by virus infection, and the most common culprits are Respiratory Syncythial Virus (RSV), Rhinovirus and Adenovirus. Acute infections with these viruses can lead to croup, and patients develop high fever, cough, wheezing and dyspnea. In susceptible individuals, croup during the first two years of life can subsequently lead to recurrent wheezing illnesses.
However, this problem often improves with age and goes into remission by about 8 years of age. Allergic asthma, on the other hand, often persists into adulthood. Even in those patients who seem to outgrow their asthma during their teens, recent studies have shown that many of them will develop asthma symptoms again in their 30s and 40s. The majority of patients with allergic asthma also suffer from allergic rhinitis, since both conditions are caused by allergen exposure. The most common allergens include house dust mites, cockroach, animal dander, mold spores and pollens.
The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult physician before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.
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