What Is E Asthma?
![Treatment for E asthma often involves typical asthma therapies such as quick-relief and long-term control medications. When the typical treatments do not improve symptoms, other therapies for E asthma may include biologics, oral corticosteroids, and immunotherapy.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/asthma-attack-shortness-breath-chest-pain-lungs-inhalation.jpg?output-quality=75)
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. E asthma (eosinophilic asthma) is a rare and severe subtype of asthma that is more commonly seen in adults, though it can occur in children.
Many patients who have E asthma often respond to typical asthma therapies including quick-relief and long-term control medicines, while others may have symptoms resistant to these therapies.
24 Medications Used for E Asthma
Usual therapies for other types of asthma that may be used in the management of E asthma include:
- Quick-relief medications are bronchodilators that expand the airways, and are taken at the first sign of asthma symptoms for immediate relief:
- Short-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (inhalers)
- Anticholinergics
Long-term asthma control medications are taken daily to prevent symptoms and asthma attacks and include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Fluticasone
- Budesonide
- Mometasone
- Beclomethasone
- Ciclesonide
- Antileukotrienes or leukotriene modifiers
- Montelukast sodium
- Zafirlukast
- Zileuton
- Long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (usually combined with an inhaled corticosteroid)
- Formoterol
- Salmeterol
- Vilanterol
E asthma is often more severe and may not respond to traditional treatments. Other therapies used to treat E asthma include:
- Biologics that target eosinophils
- Benralizumab (Fasenra)
- Dupilumab (Dupixent)
- Mepolizumab (Nucala)
- Omalizumab (Xolair)
- Reslizumab (Cinqair)
- Oral corticosteroids
- Immunotherapy, useful when asthma is triggered by an allergy
- Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy [SCIT])
- Sublingual (under the tongue) tablets or drops (sublingual immunotherapy [SLIT])
What Are Symptoms of E Asthma?
Symptoms of E asthma (eosinophilic asthma) are often severe and persistent and may include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- Lung function abnormalities (airflow obstruction)
- Chronic sinus infection (rhinosinusitis) with nasal polyps
- Inflamed nasal mucous membranes
What Causes E Asthma?
The cause of E asthma (eosinophilic asthma) is unknown, but it usually results from a strong immune system response to a substance in the lungs.
How Is E Asthma Diagnosed?
E asthma (eosinophilic asthma) is diagnosed with a patient history and a physical exam, and tests such as:
- Blood testing to measure the number of eosinophils in a patient’s blood
- Examination of a patient’s sputum sample under a microscope
- Examination of a bronchial biopsy (tissue sample) or bronchial fluid from the lung
E asthma may be misdiagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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https://acaai.org/asthma
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma
https://apfed.org/about-ead/eosinophilic-asthma/