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Bronchial Asthma|
Pediatric and Adolescent Care (psych)|
Jessica Chrysostom 00022492Deniece La Roche 00036255Kendon Simmons 00039205|

Table of Contents
Topic Page # Introduction 2-4 Clinical Manifestation 4 Asthma and Age

Diagnostic challenges
Major Criteria
Minor Criteria
Drug Category (Bronchodilators)

Bronchial asthma, also known as asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow affecting the passage of air to and from our lungs. This then leads to periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness. Inflammation also causes sensitivity of the airways to irritation, leading to an increasing vulnerability to allergic reactions. Persons who suffer from asthma are said to be asthmatic, and have what are known as asthmatic episodes or asthmatic attacks. An asthmatic attack occurs when symptoms are worse than usual, and can range from mild or moderate, to severe. These attacks are usually triggered by allergens that become sensitive to the airways, causing allergic reactions. They include substances such as cockroach droppings, mold, house dust or dust mites, pollen, animal proteins or even certain foods. At inception, asthma attacks allow sufficient air to enter the lungs; however, carbon dioxide does not exit the lungs fast enough. In prolonged episodes this can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the lungs which is poisonous, and also lowers the amount of oxygen being allowed to enter the bloodstream. In severe asthmatic episodes oxygen does not enter the lungs due to blockage of the airways; therefore, oxygen does not get to the bloodstream, thus never reaching the body’s vital organ which requires immediate...
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