Pediatric specialist answers questions regarding allergic asthma

• Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways.
• What are the symptoms of allergic asthma?
• These symptoms are often provoked by an identifiable trigger.
• A family history of allergies is the most important predictor of whether a person will develop asthma.
• Most people with asthma also suffer from other allergic disorders.
• Nasal allergies and allergic asthma are both triggered by exposure to allergens, initiating a series of events that result in tightening of the airways, swelling of the lining of the airways, nose and eyes, and mucus production.
• IgE (Immunoglobulin E) is an antibody in the human immune system that plays a critical role in the allergic process.
• When an individual is sensitized to an allergen, he or she produces an IgE antibody directed against that allergen.
• When the individual is exposed to that same allergen again, the allergen binds to the IgE on the mast cell causing it to release substances such as histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which cause symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.
• Asthma is treated with medications including anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes that decrease inflammation in the lungs, and bronchodilators used for relief of symptoms.
• Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a program of injections that reduces allergic sensitization.
• A new drug currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration, known as anti-IgE, concentrates on short-circuiting the allergic reaction in the body before it even begins.
• Anti-IgE therapy stops the allergic reaction before it starts, allowing the patient to avoid allergy symptoms that often trigger an asthma attack or lead to the development of asthma attacks.
• Researchers are looking for targets for new forms of treatment.