The disease is a combination of respiratory distresses with coughing, wheezing breathing and difficulties to breathe. The symptoms vary according to the age, the environment where the person lives and the history of the family.
Asthma is a respiratory disease that affects with high frequency the children and youth. 5 percent of the asthma population is adults, and ten percent are children and teenagers in industrialized countries (Morris, 2014). The increase in the greenhouse emission gasses affected the appearance of respiratory distresses in the population, affecting more to kids and teenagers.
The symptoms in children are a cough at night while in adults the most important symptoms are fatigue, chest tightness, and wheezing. Asthma could be a deadly disease if the patient does not receive a correct treatment. The sanitary authorities must be aware of this disease that is affecting mainly industrialized regions of the world.
Factors that affect a specific population
■ The children and teenagers are exposed to different sources of contamination in school, street, and home.
■ The children and teenagers have their respiratory system under development. That affects the normal functioning of their lungs.
■ The industrialized countries has a higher atmosphere contamination. Examples of the metropolitan areas of China are a current example of how the environment affects the occurrence of the disease.
Disease transmit ion modes
There is no way to transmit the asthma disease by physical contact between one people to another. There are studies about the "pre-condition" transmit ion between fathers and sons, but there is no conclusive evidence (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2014).
Control and treatment of the disease
The best way to reduce the appearance of the disease is the elimination of the main causes:
■ Air contamination: A change in the energy scheme of the cities from a carbon source to other clean sources as natural gas, the wind, and solar energy will reduce carbon emission that contaminates the quality of air.
■ Fugitive Air: The dust, pollen, and fungi particles in the air cause the asthma appearance in children and teenagers. The reduction of those causes will reduce the frequency of asthma appearance.
■ Food: The asthma situations are common in the childhood when is related to food. The most important symptom is vomiting. The problem is that the situation could be confused with food poisoning.
Social and cultural influence in the particular population
The industrialized way of life affects the population with the condition of asthma. The resulting contamination due by the transport means and energy generation affects in a negative way to the vulnerable population.
Strategies to prevent the disease
The asthma is a disease without cure; there are recommended measures to deal with the disease:
■ Avoid the exposure to pollen, fungi, dust and the contact with animals like rats, horses, and dogs.
■ Avoid the exercise in seasons with a high concentration of pollen. The exposure could cause difficulties to breathe and asthma attack (Global Asthma Report, 2015).
■ Parents should have their sons and daughters when they suffer the viral process
■ Avoid the smoking and the "second-hand smoke."
■ Use protective masks and clean ventilation systems.
■ A specialist must provide to the patient a written treatment plan with clear instructions and the related prescription. The instructions could be modified according to the evolution of the patient.
References
Global Asthma Report. (2015). The Global Asthma Report 2014. Retrieved from http://www.globalasthmareport.org/burden/burden.php
Morris, M. (2014). Asthma Treatment & Management. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/296301-treatment
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2014). How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled? Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/treatment
