Bronchial Asthma Presentation. First Aid
Most often, bronchial asthma occurs against the background of respiratory diseases, bronchitis, and pneumonia. In all cases, the disease develops as a result of the body hypersensibility to allergens.
Attacks of suffocation may have their outset during inhalation of air polluted with smoke, the products of combustion, and other substances like paint, odors. Food substances (eggs, some vegetables and fruits) may also serve as allergens. Besides, there is an important factor of genetic burden to bronchial asthma. We mean here hereditary predisposition to asthma, not the inheritance of the disease.
Attack of asphyxia occurs during overexcitation of some parts of the involuntary nervous system, thus causing spasm of bronchial tubes and defluvium (mucus release). Most attacks start suddenly, at night. At this point the patient must be in sitting position. He is pale in the face, has a labored respiration, a frightened face covered with perspiration; cyanosis is noted.
Duration of the attack is from several minutes to some hours. The arresting of attacks is accompanied by thick, viscous sputum. Breathing is restored; the patient calms down and falls asleep.
The attack of bronchial asthma in children always has its precursors – the parents can anticipate the attack by noting certain changes in their child’s behavior. Typically, the child is restless, he has shining eyes with mydriatic pupils, and his skin turns pale. The sick begins coughing and sneezing. These signs sometimes occur for several hours or days. The attack of bronchial asthma itself is a state of suffocation, which is accompanied by rough breathing.
In order to provide first aid during the attack you need first to keep the room sweet, call in a doctor and seat the child. It is not recommended to apply the mustard plaster or mustard bath, as its smell could exasperate bronchial spasm. You can not use steam inhalation and, as in some cases hot water vapor increases bronchial spasm. The children who have used antasthmatic aerosols should be given the repeated doses of these drugs very carefully since they are long-delayed, and the overdose is possible.
While undergoing treatment for bronchial asthma the patient should adhere to protein-vegetable diet with restriction of salt. It is important not to eat milk and main dairy products but replace them with juices. Such therapies as massage, breathing exercises, regular tempering, jogging, cycling, affusion and rubdown are recommended. One must not neglect any one sport.
The treatment should be primarily aimed at the abolition of causes of asthma. Avoid inhalation fragrances, the influence of humidity, cold and dusty atmosphere.
Early treatment of acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, catarrh of upper respiratory tract, pneumonia, etc.) is very important. One must always remember that oral cavity and epipharynx sanation have the appropriate therapeutic action.
January 09 2009 06:56 am | Burliness