Allergic Asthma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Methods

Allergic asthma is a chronic respiratory condition caused by the narrowing and inflammation of the airways resulting from inhaling certain airborne allergens. It is the most common type of asthma, accounting for approximately 60% of all cases. When the immune system perceives normally harmless substances like pollen or dust as a threat, it releases chemicals that cause swelling and narrowing of the airways.

The most prominent symptoms of the condition include shortness of breath, wheezing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest, often accompanied by coughing that worsens at night. Additional symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and skin rashes may occur upon exposure to allergens. Common triggers for allergic asthma include pollens, house dust mites, dander, saliva, or urine from animals such as cats and dogs, mold spores, and cockroach droppings.

Allergic asthma usually begins in childhood and is often seen in conjunction with other allergic conditions such as eczema or allergic rhinitis. People with a family history of asthma or allergies have a higher risk of developing this condition.

Although there is no cure for allergic asthma, it can be controlled with the right methods. First, allergen exposure should be avoided through measures such as frequent house cleaning, using allergen-resistant linens, keeping windows closed during periods of high pollen concentration, and using air purifiers. Additionally, medication can be used, including rescue inhalers that quickly relieve symptoms, corticosteroids that reduce inflammation, antihistamines, and leukotriene modifiers. Allergen immunotherapy is also a long-term treatment method administered via injection or sublingually to increase the body's tolerance to allergens. In moderate or severe cases, biological drugs such as Omalizumab and Dupilumab, which target specific pathways in the immune system, can be used in injectable protein therapy.

Various methods are used by healthcare professionals to diagnose allergic asthma. Spirometry, a basic breathing test that measures lung capacity and airflow, is one of the methods used. Other methods include the Bronchial Provocation Test (Methacholine), which measures airway sensitivity, and skin scratch tests or allergen-specific IgE blood tests to identify allergens such as pollen and dust that trigger symptoms.

Nazile Begum Guvenc