Asthma: the latest developments
Asthma is one of the most common respiratory diseases and long-term health problems. Some people have very asthma, but in the worst cases it can be life threatening. The prevalence of this disease across the developed world had led to considerable funding into possible causes, vaccines and treatments.
• Recent theories around the cause include pregnancy diets, with Vitamin E rich diets reportedly preventing childhood asthma and viral infections in newborn babies also increasing the risk of the condition
• New treatments are in the pipeline – some pharmaceutical and others of more practical nature: filters for furnaces are being developed by Allergy Asthma Technology, in contrast to monoclonal antibodies by KaloBios
• Traditional treatment with corticosteroids is being updated, with the dosage frequencies being revised for optimal effects, according to symptoms (read more here).
• The importance of treating asthma successfully is strengthened by recent data that suggests it makes children more sleepy during the day therefore disrupting their education and development
Key Terms: Asthma; Respiratory; Inhalers
