In children, bronchial asthma is the most common chronic disease. However, adults also suffer from these attacks of breathing difficulties. The trigger is a hypersensitivity of the airways – with various causes. Recurring coughing attacks, whistling breathing noises, the feeling of not getting enough air – by now almost every tenth child knows these typical symptoms of bronchial asthma from personal experience. Around half of them will also have to live with this chronic inflammation of the airways (bronchi) as adults.
Asthma: chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
The later in childhood asthma begins, the more likely it is to persist. Symptoms are not constant in bronchial asthma, but they always occur suddenly and worsen rapidly. An asthma attack can be life-threatening.
The rate of the disease has increased in recent years – especially in western industrialized nations. It is still not known exactly why this is so, although there are numerous studies and theories. Treatment of bronchial asthma depends on the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Different forms of bronchial asthma
In principle, two forms are distinguished – non-allergic asthma and allergic asthma; a mixed form often occurs:
- Non-allergic asthma (endogenous asthma): the acute asthma attacks are triggered by non-specific stimuli without any evidence of allergy. These can be, for example, infections (infectious asthma), dust, tobacco smoke or cold air; but also psychological factors such as stress or excitement can be relevant for non-allergic asthma. Infectious asthma in particular is more likely to occur in a baby or young child.
- Allergic asthma (extrinsic asthma): the asthma attacks are based on a hypersensitivity or allergy to certain substances, if it is allergic asthma; often other allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis or hay fever are also present before or in parallel. Often the allergy in allergic asthma is directed against house dust mites or animal hair. Allergic asthma is more likely to occur in school age and young adults.
- Mixed form: this form of bronchial asthma occurs mostly in adults. In this case, there is a simultaneous allergic asthma and a lowered threshold for respiratory infections to trigger asthma. Often there is also a sensitivity to certain drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid.
