What is Asthma ?
Asthma is an chronic inflammatory disorder that’s characterized by reversible obstruction of the airways . Asthma mainly occurs in children in which half of all cases develop before patients reach 10 years of age .
Types of Asthma
We can classify asthma into two categories :
1) Extrinsic asthma ( Allergic Asthma )
Extrinsic asthma occurs mostly in children. It is triggered by specific allergens such as pollens, dust, molds as while as highly allergenic foods such as eggs, milk, tomatoes, chocolate, fish and shellfish . However Drugs and chemicals such as penicillin, aspirin, sulfites and vaccine can also trigger an allergic asthmatic attack. Approximately 50% of those asthmatic children outgrow extrinsic asthma by their late teens or early twenties. …show more content…
Attacks are caused by non-allergic factors such as respiratory infection, physical exertion, air and environmental pollution. Physiological and Psychological stress can induce an attack such as having a dental treatment in which some studies showed that there is reduction of lung function in 15% of asthmatic patients while receiving dental care
The mechanism of an asthmatic attack Both asthma types have the same mechanism in initiating an attack . The allergen or non-allergen factors stimulates the vagus nerve to release acetylcholine which cause constriction of the airways and increased glandular secretions which will plug the small airways in the lungs leading to bronchial edema and airway obstruction.
Sings and symptoms of an acute asthmatic attack
It is very important for the dentist as well as the assistant to be aware of the possible sings and symptoms that may follow an asthmatic attack so that they can deal with it correctly if it happens on the dental chair , and save the patients life , which includes :
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing and
Asthma is an chronic inflammatory disorder that’s characterized by reversible obstruction of the airways . Asthma mainly occurs in children in which half of all cases develop before patients reach 10 years of age .
Types of Asthma
We can classify asthma into two categories :
1) Extrinsic asthma ( Allergic Asthma )
Extrinsic asthma occurs mostly in children. It is triggered by specific allergens such as pollens, dust, molds as while as highly allergenic foods such as eggs, milk, tomatoes, chocolate, fish and shellfish . However Drugs and chemicals such as penicillin, aspirin, sulfites and vaccine can also trigger an allergic asthmatic attack. Approximately 50% of those asthmatic children outgrow extrinsic asthma by their late teens or early twenties. …show more content…
Attacks are caused by non-allergic factors such as respiratory infection, physical exertion, air and environmental pollution. Physiological and Psychological stress can induce an attack such as having a dental treatment in which some studies showed that there is reduction of lung function in 15% of asthmatic patients while receiving dental care
The mechanism of an asthmatic attack Both asthma types have the same mechanism in initiating an attack . The allergen or non-allergen factors stimulates the vagus nerve to release acetylcholine which cause constriction of the airways and increased glandular secretions which will plug the small airways in the lungs leading to bronchial edema and airway obstruction.
Sings and symptoms of an acute asthmatic attack
It is very important for the dentist as well as the assistant to be aware of the possible sings and symptoms that may follow an asthmatic attack so that they can deal with it correctly if it happens on the dental chair , and save the patients life , which includes :
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing and