Allergic Asthma Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Allergic Asthma - Case Study Example In 2001, 73 people per 1000 were diagnosed to have chronic allergic asthma with the help of the medical professional; this is current prevalence of allergic asthma. What is more interesting to note, is that the prevalence of allergic asthma among minorities is disproportionably higher than among the native population. This may be explained by the social conditions, which often define the general state of health and immune system among patients from ethnic minorities. Asthma was also one of the leading diagnoses in the hospitalizations, and its morbidity was equal to 1.6 per 100,000 of the native population. Thus, accounting the noted information the importance and relevance of the present discussion is not under any doubt. (Adams, Smith & Ruffin, 2001) first of all, the process of diagnosis and its confirmation is clinical, and there are no blood tests, histopathological or radiographic investigations which can be performed to confirm the suggested asthma. Mrs. H addressed the doctor for medical assistance in 2004. ... sence of wheeze during these periods were the signs of the asthma, but for the reasons of her addressing the medical establishment with this problem for the first time, there had been no previous notes in relation to her state. She was 29, and she had used to have such health problems for about 10 years before, but with the exacerbations passing quickly and with long breaks she didn't see the reason for serious medication. Mrs H's family history stated that her both parents had chronic allergic rhinitis. Mrs H herself noted that tobacco smoke worsened her state, as well as dust inhaling; she had never smoked herself. Her social status was favorable, and her profession was accounting, thus she used to work with papers which could often be the sources of dust. She didn't have any signs of breath difficulties after use of aspirin or other medicines. Wheeze was episodic but was becoming more frequent. It is useful to remember, that the symptoms of allergic asthma may sometimes be mixed with the other symptoms, which may make the diagnosis doubtful or wrong; if the patient has difficulties in breathing without wheeze, fixed wheeze, or mentions the weight loss, the chest X-ray is recommended for the determining of the exact diagnosis, which in such case may be either COPD, or tumor, bronchiectasis, etc. As for the family history in diagnosing allergic asthma, it is one of the most important risk factors to account when diagnosing any allergic diseases; 'asthma is linked to both parental and sibling history. The strongest association is with maternal atopy'. (British Thoracic Society, 1997) Diagnosis of asthma with the account of theoretical knowledge Bearing in mind that Mrs H didn't have any additional symptoms which could make the diagnosis doubtful, she was asked to