THE UNMET NEED OF

ASTHMA

Definition
Asthma is a condition of
the lungs characterized
by widespread
narrowing of the airways
due to spasm of the
smooth muscle, edema
of the mucosa, and the
presence of mucus in
the lumen of the bronchi
and bronchioles.

Incidence
The prevalence of asthma
worldwide is around 200
million with a mortality of
around 0.2 million per year.
The estimated burden of
asthma in India is more than
15 million.

Pathophysiol
ogy
Exposure to
allergens
Hypersecretion
of mucus in the
bronchial tree to
mucosal edema

dyspneu

Inflammation
Increase
constriction
of the
Smooth
muscle

Causes
Allergy is the strongest predisposing factor for
asthma. Chronic exposure to airway irritants or
allergens can be seasonal such as grass, tree
and weed pollens or perennial under this are
the molds, dust and roaches. Common triggers
of asthma symptoms and exacerbations
include air way irritants like air pollutant, cold,
heat, weather changes, strong odors and
perfumes. Other contributing factor would
include exercise, stress or emotional upset,
sinusitis with post nasal drip, medications and
viral respiratory tract infections.

Clinical Manifestation
The three most common
symptoms of asthma are
cough, dyspnea, and
wheezing. In some instances
cough may be the only
symptoms. An asthma
attack often occurs at night
or early in the morning,
possibly because circadian
variations that influence

Prevention
Patient with recurrent
asthma should undergo
test to identify the
substance that
participate the
symptoms. Patients are
instructed to avoid the
causative agents
whenever possible.
Knowledge is the key to

Medical
Management
There are two general process of
asthma medication: quick relief
medication for immediate
treatment of asthma symptoms
and exacerbations and long
acting medication to achieve and
maintain control and persistent
asthma. Because of underlying
pathology of asthma is
inflammation, control of
persistent asthma is accomplish
primarily with the regular use of
anti inflammatory medications.

Unmet needs of Asthma sufferers around

the world , including in Indonesia , is still
a constraint handling is marked by
shrinkage , swelling and excessive mucus
in the respiratory tract . The fact that
according to Advisor to the Minister of
Health Naydial Roesdal on Sunday ,
making the World Health Organization
( WHO ) and the Global Initiative for
Asthma ( Global Initiative for Asthma /
GNA ) highlights the problem needs
asthma unmet ( the Unmet Needs of
Asthma ) on Asthma Day Se - world on
May 2, 2006 .

In this regard the founder and

builder Indonesia Asthma
Foundation (YAI ) Prof. Hadiarto
Mangunnegoro explained that until
now the most important component
in the prevention of asthma the
asthma medicine could not be
reached by all circles of society .

Inaccuracy of diagnosis makes the patient does not

get proper treatment so the condition worsen , more
often experience recurrence , the degree of asthma
is increasing and ultimately degrade the quality of
life and increased risk of death.Incorrect diagnosis
also leads to asthma patients do not get sufficient
management of disease management . Besides the
importance of information about asthma have not
been fully realized by asthma sufferers , many
patients or parents of patients with asthma who do
not understand that asthma is a chronic respiratory
disease that needs to be controlled regularly by a
doctor and the right treatment and regular .Yet
when have enough knowledge of the community can
avoid asthma triggers of asthma and using asthma
medications that can control the interference from
the disease