Asthma: A Case Study

Paper Summary:

The paper explains what asthma is, how it affects the body, the factors that could cause or lead to asthma as well as the diagnostic testing that is usually performed to formally diagnose asthma. The paper also discusses the appropriate treatment including alternative treatments and relates the typical prognosis for a patient with asthma. Finally, the paper outlines the patient teaching which would benefit the patient in the case study.

Outline:
The Patient's Diagnosis of Asthma, What Asthma is and How it Affects the Body
The Factors that Could Cause or Lead to Asthma
The Diagnostic Testing that is Usually Performed to Formally Diagnose Asthma
The Appropriate Treatment Which the Patient may be Prescribed for Asthma
Alternative Treatments Which May Also Benefit the Patient
The Typical Prognosis for a Patient With Asthma
Patient Teaching Which Would Benefit the Patient in the Case Study

From the Paper:

"Asthma is a chronic syndrome that manifests with symptoms of airflow obstruction. It may begin in children, but it may recur as adults. The severity of symptoms of this disease depends on the degree or airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation (Busse and Lemanske, 2001). It mimics body responses similar to that experienced by a person having an allergic reaction. It is known to affect approximately 300 million worldwide, with 10 to 12% are adults, and 15% of children. In childhood, males are more likely to have asthma than females by two-fold, but by adults, the sex ratio is the same. Many factors can provoke an asthma attack, such as allergens, airborne irritants, viral infections, or occupational exposure to items such as noxious smoke (Adkinson, Yunginger, Busse, Bochner, Holgate, and Simons, 2003)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adkinson, N. F., Yunginger, J. W., Busse, W. W., Bochner, B. S., Holgate, S. T., and Simons, E. R. (2003). Middleton's Allergy, 6th ed. PA: Mosby.
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2005). Information about asthma, allergies, food allergies, and more! [Online.] Retrieved 10 July 2008 from the Web site: http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=14
• BUPA.com. (October 2005). Asthma - causes, symptoms, treatment and types of medicine. [Online.] Retrieved 11 July 2008 from the Web site: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/asthma.html
• Busse, W. W., and Lemanske, R. F. (2001). "Asthma." The New England Journal of Medicine, 344(5): 350-363.
• Mason, R. J., Murray, J. F., Broaddus, V. C., and Nadel, J. A. (2005). Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, PA: Elsevier Saunders.

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