Solution
Anju Lata answered on
Dec 17 2020
Running Head: Developing Integrated Care
Pathophysiology of Asthma 2
PART-A
Pathophysiology of Asthma & Clinical Manifestations of Zachy
Student Name: Tanuja Dass
Student Number:220183921
Unit: HSNS264
Written assignment: Developing Integrated Care
Due date: 21/12/2018
Unit Co-ordinator: Liz Ryan
Word Limit:1250
Word Count: 1202
University of New England
Introduction
Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways and infiltration of inflammatory cells like neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, epithelial cell injury and mast cell activation. It contributes to airflow limitation, and airway hyper-responsiveness (Mo
is, 2017). The disease is known to affect more than 300 million people worldwide, leading to 2,50,000 deaths annually (Kudo, Ishigatsubo & Aoki, 2013).The prevalence of asthma is depicted to be higher in the developed countries, and half of the people incepting the disease are of less than 10 year of age (Kudo et al, 2013). The prevalence of disease is twice more frequent in boys than the girls (Muglia & Oppenheimer, 2017). The disease has a strong genetic basis as well. The paper demonstrates the pathophysiology of asthma while linking it to Zachy’s clinical manifestations.
Pathophysiology of Asthma
In Asthma, recu
ent airflow limitations and airway na
owing occur due to several changes in the air passage like
onchoconstriction (contraction of
onchial smooth muscle), airway edema, hype
esponsiveness, and airway remodeling (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, 2007). The
onchial inflammation leads to repeated episodes of wheeze, cough and shortness of
eath as perceived in Zachy.
General symptoms of asthma involve chest tightedness, wheeze, cough, SOB, and dyspnea (Australian asthma handbook, 2018). Though the asthma occurs due to patient’s sensitivity to allergens like dust, pollens, fungi, house dust mites, it may also occur due to genetic inheritance (Bijanzadeh, 2011). The environmental factors such as unhygienic conditions and exposure to bacteria and harmful pathogens may also alter the proportion of immune cells in the body (Christopher, 2016).
The inhaled antigens trigger the Th2 cells and mast cells in the airway to initiate the production of other inflammation mediators like leukotrienes, histamines and cytokines (Burke et al, 2016). Mucosal mast cells also release the mediators of
onchoconstrictors. Increase in eosinophils and neutrophils count produces chemokines, leukotrienes, inflammatory enzymes and other cytokines, further increasing the severity of asthma (Pothirat et al, 2015). The other cells involved in the mechanism of asthma are dendritic cells, macrophages, and airway epithelium (Angus et al, 2015). Macrophages are activated by low affinity IgE receptors which release the cytokines and inflammatory mediators to amplify the infection (Australian asthma handbook, 2018). The epithelial layer undergoes activation, proliferation, hypertrophy and contraction, sometimes also gets injured...