Eosinophilic asthma (EA) is a type of asthma, a chronic respiratory disease caused by the airways becoming inflamed and swollen due to eosinophils. It is a rare disease with asthma attacks or episodes of asthma-related eosinophil inflammation. Eosinophil is a type of white blood cell known to cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
Onset of asthma symptoms can occur any time during the year. However, the peak season for eosinophilic airway disease (EARD) is often spring and fall, when allergens that cause asthma attacks are present. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. In addition to these symptoms, you may also experience a dry cough due to increased mucus production. The symptoms that occur in a person with EA are similar to those of other types of asthma.
Symptoms of EA flare up during the night or early in the morning. If your symptoms are well controlled with medication, you may have only occasional asthma episodes. However, if EA is not treated properly, it can lead to more severe and even chronic asthma episodes. Children with EA may experience more severe symptoms than those experienced by adults. Children with EA have less ability to regulate breathing than adults.
The causes of EA are not completely understood. Studies show that an eosinophil reaction is related to an immune system response or reaction. Eosinophils can affect the airways and cause inflammation of the respiratory tract. EA occurs more often in people with allergic conditions, like hay fever, asthma or eczema. Certain other diseases, allergies and medical conditions can also increase the risk of developing eosinophilic asthma. These diseases include acute eosinophilic leukemia, chronic eosinophilic leukemia, scleroderma, radiation therapy and steroids.
Getting a correct diagnosis of EA requires a thorough evaluation of your symptoms. The diagnosis is based on your symptoms, history and other factors such as blood tests and imaging tests. Imaging tests aid in identifying blockages and areas of inflammation in the airways due to eosinophilic inflammation.
Blood tests may reveal more information about how your body responds to an allergic reaction. A complete asthma action plan is developed to provide strategies that can be put into place to help manage and prevent airway inflammation. This includes medication, breathing techniques and ways to reduce anxiety.
EA usually responds well to the treatment options available. These include medications, airway clearance and exercise. For symptoms to improve, it is vital that you strictly follow a prescribed treatment plan and take medications as directed. Medications can help control a severe asthma attack and help control your airway. This can help reduce the mucus in your lungs and improve your breathing ability. In some cases, people with EA may be advised to take corticosteroids and other medicines on a long-term basis.
Airway clearance removes the mucus and allergens in the airways. You can get airway clearance by using a special device called a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a machine that uses pressurized air and a series of small nozzles to blow the mucus out of the lungs. The greater the force directed at clearing your airways, the quicker your symptoms will improve. Exercise is another treatment option often recommended for people with eosinophilic asthma. Exercise improves lung function and helps to regulate the immune system.