Case Study Report on Asthma

Running head: CASE STUDY REPORT ON ASTHMA
CASE STUDY REPORT ON ASTHMA
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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CASE STUDY REPORT ON ASTHMA
Description of the health issue:
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways of individuals. Airways are the
tubes that help in carrying air in and outside of the lungs. In case of asthma, the inside walls of
the airways become sore and swollen making it difficult for them to breathe. Children who are
suffering from asthma are seen to experience wheezing, coughing, chest tightness as well as
troubled breathing. In the case study as well, the teenage child was seen to suffer from the
disorder. Researchers are of the opinion that a number of factors trigger the occurrence of the
disorder (Azzopardi et al., 2018). These are the allergens like mold, pollens as well as animals.
Irritants like cigarette, smoke and air pollution along with cold air and changes in weather can
also exacerbate the situations. Exercise, flu and common cold also influence the symptoms. The
child of the case study has seen to undertake exercise, inhale smoke from cigarettes exhaled by
his mother and affected by the mould. These had exacerbated his symptoms making him suffer
from asthma attack. 1 in 9 Australians have been reported in having asthma in 2014 to 2015 and
about 421 deaths sue to asthma have taken place in 2015. Only 1 in 5 people have been seen to
possess a written asthma action plan that is based on 2014 to 2015 self-reported data mainly in
age of 15 and above (Asthma Snapshot, 2018). Asthma is more common in the indigenous
children in comparison to the non-indigenous children with a prevalence of 14.6% in native
children and 9.35 in non-native children. 2012-2013 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Health Survey have published this data
Social and environmental determinants of health:
One of the most important social determinants of health is the addiction as stated by the
World health organization. The mother of the child is seen to be addicted to smoking of

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CASE STUDY REPORT ON ASTHMA
tobaccos. This addiction is one of the determinants of poor health condition of the child (Jenkins
et al., 2009). Researchers are of the opinion that substances in the tobacco smoke have the ability
to irritate the airways. They make the airways swollen, narrow and fill them with mucus in the
patients who are vulnerable towards it. Moreover, smoking also causes damage to the tiny hair-
like structures in the airways called the cilia. The cultural traditions of the native people expose
them to smoking from a very young age (Swan, 2008). When mothers smoke during pregnancy,
the child in her womb might not have normal births or he might be born with various disorders.
This smoking behavior is one of the social determinants of health that is affecting the teenage
child. Another social determinant is their poor socio-economic status. People of such cohort face
difficulty in ensuring finical security in life and is exposed to various disorders. In the case study,
the family is seen to belong to such cohort where they do not have the financial strength to move
into a new place that is free from any infection. The environmental determinant is the poor
housing system where the family lives with the child. There are moulds present in the house
where they stay and this condition increases the chances of exacerbation in the affected
individual. Therefore, it can be seen that low socioeconomic status and addiction of the mother
to smoking are the two social determinants and presence of moulds in the physical environment
are the conditions that influence the disorder in the teenage patient.
Description of the services available:
Condobolin, NSW possesses a number of healthcare services that provide culturally
competent healthcare services to the native people residing in the region. One of the most famous
healthcare service centers in this region is the Condobolin Aboriginal Health service. Murrin
Bridge Aboriginal Health Services, Lake Caegelligo Family Practices, Peak hill Community
Practice, Peak hill Aboriginal Medical services are some of the Aboriginal health care services