Long-Acting Beta Agonists: Salmeterol and Formeterol

Salmeterol and Formeterol
Two long-acting ß 2 -adrenergic agonists (LABAs), salmeterol and formoterol, have been demonstrated to be safe and effective agents in children, both in terms of bronchodilation and prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Their onsets of action differ, with formoterol having an onset similar to albuterol (3 minutes), while salmeterol has a slower onset of action (10–20 minutes). Following a single-dose administration, both agents demonstrate durations of action up to 12 hours. Following regular twice-daily administration, bronchodilation remains effective; however, a level of tolerance (or tachyphylaxis) (more…)

Cromolyn, Nedocromil, Theophylline: Asthma Medications

asthma medications
Cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium are inhaled agents that are alternatives to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the management of mild persistent asthma in children. Both drugs have been shown to possess anti inflammatory properties through nonsteroidal mechanisms, although the exact mechanisms for their actions remain unclear. (more…)

Roflumilast Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor, Attenuates Allergen-Induced Asthmatic Reactions

Roflumilast Phosphodiesterase
Roflumilast is an oral, once-daily inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) that prevents the breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, leading to inhibition of pro-inflammatory signalling. This study investigated the effects of repeated doses of 250 or 500 µg of roflumilast on airway asthma responses to allergen. (more…)

Long Acting Beta-Agonist Bronchodilator Tolerance

Regular use of ß-agonists has been known to lead to tolerance to their bronchodilator effects. It is not known how quickly tolerance develops or how long it lasts after stopping ß-agonist therapy.

Bronchodilator tolerance occurs after even a single dose and reaches a maximum after 1 week of regular formoterol. Sensitivity recovers 3 days after stopping treatment. (more…)

Asthma With Concomitant Allergic Rhinitis Among Asthmatic Children

Asthmatic children who also have Allergic Rhinitis seem to have higher morbidity and to use more healthcare resources. This was further investigated to determine the incremental effect of Allergic Rhinitis on healthcare resource use in children with asthma. The data were from a general practice database in the UK and covered the period 1998–2001. Children aged 6–15 years who had an asthma related visit to their general practitioner at least once during a defined 12 month period were reviewed. (more…)

Allergy and Immune System: Living with Allergies & Immune Disorders

By definition, allergy is a condition where a person has hypersensitivity to an environmental, drug, or food antigen (allergen) caused by an altered or unusual immune system reaction to the antigen.

Allergenic foods can impact the lungs when an allergic reaction individual inhales food particles that may have been released when the food was cooked or that were dispersed in aerosol form. Allergy to the allergens in cooked food has been reported by highly allergic patients who were exposed to their allergenic foods (say, fish, shellfish, or eggs) in an enclosed area (for example, a restaurant dining room) or during meal preparation. Most cases of asthma triggered by aerosolized food allergens involve adults engaged in specific occupations that regularly expose them to the allergens. In contrast, most cases of asthma in children are triggered when the allergen is eaten, not inhaled.

Many experts believe that if a baby can be protected from becoming sensitized to the most highly allergenic foods when their healthy immune system and the digestive tract are in the most vulnerable stage for allergy to develop, the incidence of lifelong food allergy and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods will be reduced and hopefully entirely prevented. When a baby has been identified to be at risk for developing allergy, measures to reduce allergic sensitization might be implemented at birth and the problems associated with future food allergy may be significantly reduced. However, as we shall see in later discussions, experts disagree on the best way to avoid this early allergic sensitization.

The reaction of asthmatics to these chemical compounds is not an allergy, but is more correctly described as allergy intolerance because the initial response is not a triggering of the immune system. The process involves an increase in the level of the inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the bronchospasm of asthma. These mediators include histamine and leukotrienes. They are released during the reaction to an allergen, and cause the muscular contractions that result in the difficulty in breathing and wheezing that are typical of asthma. By inhibiting (or turning off) other types of mediators, the chemicals in the food additives cause an increase in the level of antihistamine and leukotrienes. This results in increased bronchospasm, and a definite worsening of the asthma symptoms.

Oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction to food that is confined to the oral cavity (i.e., to the lips, and around the lips, roof of the mouth, tongue, hard and soft palate, and uvula) and adjacent structures. It differs from other food allergy in that its symptoms do not appear in any other location in the body, and always accompany respiratory allergy to inhaled allergens of plants, particularly plant pollens. Of course, symptoms in the mouth, throat, and upper respiratory tract can be part of a generalized reaction to foods, but in this case they are more accurately described as oral allergy symptoms. The term oral allergy syndrome applies specifically to pollen allergy (pollinosis) accompanied by reactions to certain raw foods when they are in direct contact with oral tissues. Individuals with Oral allergy syndrome typically have hay fever symptoms caused by allergies to trees, grasses, and weeds. They experience irritation in the mouth (lips, tongue, roof of the mouth) and sometimes the throat after eating specific types of raw fruits, vegetables, and sometimes nuts.

What is Asthma Bronchospasm?

asthma bronchospasm
There are other signs and symptoms of asthma. People with asthma can be feeling irritable because of asthma discomfort. Some signs usually occur before an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic disease of the lung, which affects respiratory system. Respiratory system is like small tubes that take the air in and out of the lungs. (more…)

Exercise Induced Asthma Causes and Symptoms

Exercise-induced asthma is a feeling of shortness of breath, with the presence of cough, wheezing, and chest tightness after physical exercise.

Normally the bronchial tree and bronchial vessels responds to exercise with increasing radius of the interior of the bronchi (bronchodilation), (more…)

Exercise Induced Asthma - Don’t Give Up Sports

It is widely knowt that pollen, pollution, smoke can trigger an asthma attack. But one interesting thing is exercise can also trigger asthma reactions.

Yes, because normally we breathe through the nose, where air is filtered, warmed and moistened. But when we exercise, especially if we are colds, sinusitis or allergic rhinitis have “breathe through the mouth and the air gets colder and drier the lungs and also unfiltered, so it can carry more allergens (more…)

Drug Allergy Reaction Classification – Immune Reactions

drug allergy reaction
Drug allergy reactions may be classified, at least theoretically, according to one of four implicated immunologic mechanisms, according to the scheme of Gell and Coombs:

Type I Drug Allergy Reactions

Type I reactions are the result of an IgE antibody reaction, which induces immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. (more…)

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