Different kinds of asthma
Allergic asthma usually begins in infancy. Out of all those with allergic asthma, 30% has symptoms already during their first two years of life, 80 % develops the illness before school age.
Asthma in children is mostly of the allergic type whilst allergy is more uncommon in adult asthmatics. Allergy means that the body has produced anti-bodies (lg E anti-bodies) to one or more allergens that it has come into contact with. Examples of allergens are pollen from, for example, birch, timothy grass and mugwort, furred animals such as dog, cat and horse as well as housedust mites. Housedust mites are tiny arachnids that live off rejected skin particles from humans and furred animals. Housedust mites are found in, among other things, bedding and dust.
The allergic reaction within asthma can be divided into a quick reaction and a slow reaction. The quick reaction with a narrowing of the airways as a result of inhaling an allergen is mostly caused by a contraction of the smooth muscles around the airways. The slow reaction has also elements of swelling of the airway linings and mucus production.
Den allergiska reaktionen vid astma kan uppdelas i en snabb reaktion och en långsam reaktion. Den snabba reaktionen med luftvägsförträngning som följd när man andas in ett allergen beror till största delen på en sammandragning av den glatta luftvägsmuskulaturen. Den långsamma reaktionen har dessutom inslag av slemhinnesvullnad och slembildning.
Bronchial asthma. Severe respiratory infection with asthma like symptoms mainly affecting infants, but also adults. Children still having attacks at the age of 18 months more often get asthma later during childhood. The adults getting asthma are almost exclusively smokers.
Asthma in adults/non allergic asthma. With older asthmatics it's only in 30 % of the cases that an allergy is found to be causing the asthma. For the remaining cases we talk about non-allergic asthma or irritation asthma.
Typical for the asthma illness is that the airways have an increased sensitivity to irritation. It means that many different kinds of irritations can trigger asthma symptoms. Respiratory infections, exercise, inhaling cold and damp air, strong fragrants and stress are examples of what can cause difficulty in breathing even for someone who is not allergic. You can't, for example, be allergic to cold air or exercise. All asthmatics will react more or less on this kind of stimuli.
Asthmatics often feel bothered at night, especially during periods when the asthma is about to deteriorate. It is not known why the asthma symptoms are worse at night or during the early hours of the morning.
Some medicines can cause severe asthma symptoms. These asthma symptoms are not due to an allergic reaction. An asthma patient must always consider that medicines can cause asthma attacks. If you are in any doubt at all regarding medication of, for instance pain killers, always consult your doctor.
