Asthma is a disease of the lower respiratory tract. In this, airways undergo inflammatory change and become narrow and swollen. Breathing becomes difficult. It affects people of all ages. In India, almost 15-20 million people are affected by asthma. Here you will study the following diseases of asthma.
- Bronchitis asthma
- Chronic asthma
- Eosinophilic asthma
- Bronchitis asthma
It is also known as Asthmaticus Bronchitis. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchioles. Bronchioles are the end tubules of bronchi. These are small airway passages that lead air towards the alveoli where the exchange of oxygen-carbon dioxide occurs.
Bronchitis Asthma is bronchitis which is the result of asthma. Bronchitis may occur without asthma. But when asthma is present it increases the chances of bronchitis. Often both diseases exist together.
What is the difference between asthma and bronchitis?
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Asthma is caused by genetic and environmental triggers while bronchitis is a viral or bacterial infection.
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The cells of inflammation in bronchitis are immune cells such as white blood cells while in asthma inflammatory cells mast cells and other bronchial tubes cells.
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The symptoms of asthma are severe with sudden onset but vanish quickly. while bronchitis lasts for few days or even weeks until the infection is cured. (Brightling, 2003)
- Chronic asthma
All types of asthma are chronic in nature. But acute asthma is an asthma attack during which bronchioles get inflamed and extra mucus is secreted making breathing difficult. During this, the symptoms of asthma appear such as wheezing, difficult breathing, and chest tightness. All asthmas are very long-term and are non-curable hence named chronic asthmas.
- Eosinophilic asthma
It is a rare subtype of asthma. It is a group of diseases that cause asthma. The main cause is Eosinophilia, an increase in the number of eosinophils, hence named eosinophilic asthma.
Eosinophils are the body's white blood cells that take part in the fight against diseases. They are notorious for causing swellings.
How’s it different from other asthmas?
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It does not come when you are a child. It attacks adults
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Inhaled corticosteroids do not affect it
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Does not caused by the usual allergies that are the cause of all other asthma
References
- Brightling, C. E. (2003). Comparison of airway immunopathology of eosinophilic bronchitis and asthma (Vol. Thorax)
- Walford, H. H. (2014). Diagnosis and management of eosinophilic asthma: a US perspective. Journal of asthma and allergy, 7, 53.
Keywords
Bronchitis asthma, Asthmaticus Bronchitis, Chronic asthma, Eosinophilic asthma
