PRESCIPITATING FACTORS

FACTORS Allergen (Animal dangers, feathers, mould, house dust mites, cockroaches, pollen)

PRESENT

JUSTIFICATION With any kind of allergy, the immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances such as pollen or dust mites. As part of this overreaction, the body produces an antibody of theimmunoglobulin E (IgE) type, which specifically recognizes and attaches to the allergen when the body is exposed to it. When that happens, it sets a process in motion that results in the release of certain substances in the body. One of them ishistamine, which causes allergic symptoms that can affect the eyes, nose, throat, skin, gastrointestinal tract, or lungs. When the airways in the lungs are affected, symptoms of asthma can occur. May produce their effects by causing epithelial damage and stimulating the production of IgE antibodies directed toward the viral antigens. In addition to precipitating an asthma attack, viral respiratory infections increase airway responsiveness to other asthma triggers that may persist for weeks beyond the original infection.

Respiratoty tract infections especially those caused by viruses

Exercise-induced

Occurs in 40% to 90% of persons with bronchial asthma. Induced asthma is unclear. One possible cause is the loss of heat and water from the tracheobronchial tree because of the need for warming and humidifying of large volumes of air. The response is exaggerated when the person exercises in a cold environment.

Inhaled irritants (such as tobacco smoke and strong odors)

Are thought to induce bronchospasm by way of irritant receptors and a vagal reflex. Exposure to parental smoking has been reported to increase asthma severity in children. High doses of irritant gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone may induce inflammatory exacerbations of airway responsiveness. Occupational asthma is stimulated by fumes and gases (e,g. epoxy resins, plastics toluene), organic and chemical dusts (i.e., wood, cotton, platinum), and other chemicals (e.g.,

PREDISPOSING FACTOR

FACTORS Family History

PRESENT

JUSTIFICATION No clear cause of asthma is known, but many risk factors have been linked to triggering asthma attacks. Individuals are more likely to have asthma if there is a family history of the disease. Having one parent with asthma increases a child's risk of developing asthma three-fold, while both parents having asthma increases a child's risk by six times. Similarly, a family history of asthma among adults in the family also has been shown to increase risk of developing asthma.

Gender

Male

gender

has

been

demonstrated to be a risk factor for BA in children before the age of 14 years,

while female gender to be a risk factor for asthma in adults. In one study it was shown that boys had a higher incidence rate of BA, while girls had a greater deficit in pulmonary function, suggesting a worse long term prognosis in female patients . An explanation for this could be that boys have a higher prevalence of allergic sensitization than girls, while in adults the gender difference is reversed.