Asthma

In Belgium, around 300,000 people have asthma. It is estimated that 12% of children suffer from it. But what exactly is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways that leads to difficulty breathing. People with asthma mainly suffer from shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. The complaints can sometimes also occur as an attack. Such attacks are then provoked by substances to which the patient is allergic, by irritating substances, by a cold or by strenuous exercise.

Asthma is a typical disease in which congenital (genetic) factors in combination with environmental factors (allergy, air pollution) lead to complaints.

The daily treatment consists of puffers in which corticosteroids are inhaled. These are very efficient at reducing the underlying inflammation. During attacks, puffers are used to open the airways. These are often administered daily in the same puffer together with the corticosteroids.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024