Trends in asthma and its management

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways. It has evolved over time from a symptom-complex to airway inflammation and airway remodeling. Based on this concept it was treated. Early therapies treated most asthma patients with inhalations to remove the foulness or the phlegm in modern terms, then when it was thought to be a disease of smooth airway muscle, bronchodilators were developed but when it was realized airway inflammation to be the cause, controller therapies such as corticosteroids were used. However, with the recognition of airway "remodeling" that occurs in response to allergens, further medications like antihistamines were added. The methods of treatment have been similar to the early period with improved management techniques at present and all these therapies had varying degrees of success. It is interesting to know how asthma was managed diligently from the ancient period. Though there were few changes in treatment, there was always progress in each era and its history has played a significant role in understanding asthma pathogenesis for better treatment and control.