Week four initial posting

Sara H Perry-Nelson

NURS 6521

Asthma is a respiratory disorder which affects all ages, genders, and races, however it is

seen in higher incidence with African Americans at an 11.2% rate compared to 7.7% rate,

Arcangelo et al, (2017, pp377). It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways which affects

over 22 million people in the United States and is most common of chronic childhood diseases

affecting over six million,National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, (2007).It is a heterogenous

chronic inflammatory condition with an unknown etiology, and it is characterized by airway

narrowing and hyperresponsiveness, with different types including allergic, late onset, non-

allergic, fixed airflow, and obesity, Arcangelo et al, (2017, pp 377). Bronchoconstriction and

mucous secretion are caused by cell mediators such as epithelial cells, mast cells, eosinophils,

and T lymphocytes.

Being as there are different severities of the disease, there are different medications

approaches used based on how well the disease is controlled. With these managements in mind,

age is a major factor, as it changes the treatment plan. Regardless of their severity or control, all

patients are prescribed a short actingbeta-adrenergic agonistbronchodilator (SABA) for treatment

of acute symptoms, such as Albuterol, and this is the drug of choice in a patient with step one or

intermittent asthma. As the steps increase, so do the levels of severity and necessary treatment.

Step two requires a low dose inhaled corticosteroid, and alternative options such as Cromolyn or

Theophylline in ages five and older, however in ages four and under Montelukast is used instead

of Theophylline. Theophylline is used as a weight baseddrug and should be used carefully in the

young and elderly, and monitored closely as It is considered a narrow therapeutic index drug, as

it can cause serious reactions in small dose differences, Drugs.com,(2012). Age as a factor can a

have a large impact on the drugs of choice, as your need to be careful when using certain