Samina Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Samina - Essay Example A child with a recurrent cough often turns out to have asthma and sometimes it can be difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis of asthma straight away. Measuring the Peak Flow Rate (a simple breathing test) with a simple meter at home is often very useful in making the diagnosis and monitoring treatment. (Asthma) In patients with asthma there is chronic inflammation in the bronchi (air passages). This makes their walls swell up so that they become narrower and muscles around the air passages become irritated so that they contract, causing sudden worsening of symptoms. The inflammation can also make mucus glands produce excessive sputum which further blocks up air passages which are already narrowed. If the inflammation is not controlled with treatment, as well as causing acute attacks, it can lead to permanent narrowing and scarring of the air passages so that eventually asthma drugs won't relieve the symptoms any more. This process is known as airway remodeling. (Asthma) Most asthma patients are diagnosed and treated by their GP. Most GPs have asthma clinics where the practice nurse will look after patients with asthma. Most asthma patients can expect to live normal lives and have a normal life expectancy. However, deaths and disability can still occur in patients with asthma and this is usually due to a failure to take preventive treatments properly and regularly. The case ofThe case of Sameena, represents highly allergic sensitivity leading to respiratory as well as skin related problems. Her asthma condition is not well managed at home, and reluctance to abide by the preventive measures in maintaining allergy free home environment, controlling allergic exposure and proper peak flow meter use, has led to conditions where her visits to clinic has increased indicating more dependence on the use of inhalers. There is no cure for asthma at present but modern drugs can control the inflammation to stop it causing symptoms and leading to disability in the future from airway remodeling. The best medicine available at present to control inflammation (and the most important treatment for the vast majority of patients), is a steroid inhaler. It is very important to understand that these medicines need to be used regularly because they are preventers i.e. medicines which protect patients from asthma. Reliever inhalers (e.g. salbutamol) only temporarily relieve the spasm in the airway muscles. This helps to relieve symptoms but does not control the underlying inflammation. Many patients are tempted to rely on their reliever medicine alone. If you have been prescribed a preventer medicine it is very important to use it regularly even when you feel well. (Asthma) The first British guidelines on asthma and management in adults were produced as a result of a joint initiative between the British Thoracic Society (BTS), The Royal College of Physicians of London, the King's Fund Centre and the National Asthma Campaign in 1990. The emphasis of the guideline is on effective administration of the medication, especially inhaled steroid which should be used in milder cases than previously recommended. The guideline reiterates that inhaled steroids are the first choice preventive drug and that a long-acting beta-2 agonist should not be used without concomitant inhaled corticoid steroids (The 2003 recommendation that there should be a trial of other treatments before increasing the inhaled steroid dose above 800mg per day in adult and 400 mg per