Case Study: Challenge and Response to Body Integrity in Asthma

This case study analyzes the case of Tegan Smith, a six-year-old experiencing asthma symptoms after moving to Mount Buller Alpine Resort. It identifies her condition as allergic asthma, triggered by environmental allergens, and discusses the pathophysiological changes associated with asthma, highlighting the role of genetics and inflammation. The study explores various treatment options, including long-term control medications, quick-relief medications, and allergy medications, emphasizing the importance of self-management and allergen avoidance. Finally, it outlines key asthma management education standards for parents and children, as recommended by the National Asthma Council of Australia, focusing on proactive care and personalized action plans. Desklib provides access to this and other solved assignments.

Running head: CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE TO BODY INTEGRITY 1
Challenge and Response to Body Integrity
Student’s Name
University

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Question one: The type of asthma that Tegan Smith is likely to have suffered
From the information in the case study, Tegan is suffering from allergic asthma which is
characterised by sensitivity to certain allergies that make the immune system to overreact leading
to tightened muscles around the airway thus making the airways inflamed and flooding with
thick mucus (Tippets & Guilbert, 2009). The simple symptoms of this type of asthma are allergic
responses like wheezing, fatigue, cough and stuffy nose. This reactions also lead to watery eyes
and postnasal drainage when the level of the allergy is too much for the body system. This type
of problem is related to family history of allergies as seen in the case of Tegan where her mother
had a history of allergy, sinusitis and nasal polyps. The allergic asthma is often caused by
environmental related allergens breathed into the lungs or any other irritants that can trigger the
attack leading to an allergic reaction. When a person with allergic asthma inhales pathogens like
pollen, pet dander, dust mites, tobacco smoke, polluted air, strong odours from scented lotions
and perfumes or strong chemicals, the allergy is triggered which makes the individual to starts
experiencing these. The severity of the condition depends with the amount of pathogens inhaled
in the system. In the case of Tegan, when the body system reacts to the pathogens, then the
individual starts wheezing which can become severe if the individual remain s in the same
environment. The situation of the patient may have been caused by anything in the environment
that triggered the pathogens.
Question two: The pathophysiological changes in asthma
Pathophysiological changes in asthma have been taking place for the last twenty five
years based in the overlapping patterns of the disease such intermittent versus acute
manifestations in patients. Since the disease is an inflammatory condition that can be easily
controlled and managed, the changes in the disease pathophysiology call for a different approach

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to the disease (Anandan, Nurmatov & Sheikh, 2010). Most treatment options available for the
problem are treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs that reverse the process, through a therapy
that requires more time to achieve the intended results.
According to Tan, et al. (2015), the pathophysiology of the disease can be understood in
three ways; the individual, inflammation and impact. Asthma as a disease has roots in the genetic
composition of the individual which determines the kind of allergy that an individual develops
and the reactions or signs that they show. For example, in the case of Tegan, her asthma is
allergic based on reaction with environmental pathogens that are inhaled in the body. The disease
is also genetic related where children can inherit asthmatic allergies from their parents. Family
history like the case of Tegan’s mother is important in understanding the genesis of the problem.
Bostantzoglou, et al. (2015) argue that the phenotypes of the disease are grouped based on
clinical characteristics like symptoms, inflammation, and pulmonary function. These
characteristics are used to group patients in a hierarchical cluster method based on the degree of
similarity between different patients. Therefore, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
identified allergic asthma, non-allergic asthma, asthma with fixed airflow limitation, asthma with
obesity and late-onset asthma. These phenotypes are classified using clinical histories,
physiologic changes and airway inflammation differences (Woolcock, Bastiampillai, Marks &
Keena 2011).
Question three: Different treatment options for asthma
Treatment of asthma involves development of an action plan for treating the condition.
Clinicians need to ensure that they carry out asthmatic tests through asking questions to
determine the allergic triggers that form the allergy tests that need to be done. Through analysing
the medical history of the patient and the test results, the health practitioner determines the

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asthma phenotype of the patient (National Asthma Council of Australia, 2018). Three common
types approaches are used in treatment of asthma, long-term asthma control medications, quick-
relief medications and allergy medications.
Long-term asthma control medications are taken daily to as cornerstones for asthma
treatment. They medications keep the condition under control on a daily basis reducing the
chances of an attack. They include, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonist, theophylline
and intranasal corticosteroids are widely used treatment options for asthma that have been in the
market for over twenty years (Corsico, Cazzoletti, Marco, & Janson, 2007). They contain
different drug that reduce reaction when used for several days they improve asthma outcomes in
many patients. The effect of this spray is reducing inflammation of the upper airway thus
allowing the patient to breathe well and later achieve improved breathing.
Allergy medications are used to reduce worsened allergy situations y controlling and
improving the immune system reaction as a therapy from reducing reactions. The drugs can
entail an injection shot that act as alterations for the immune system.
Lastly, quick-relief medications are used to reduce short-term relief symptoms during an
asthma attack. These medications are inhaled directly to assist the patient to reduce the reactions
that the patient faces and reduce the reaction (Corsico, Cazzoletti, Marco, & Janson, 2007).
These medications are used as quick relievers for patients facing acute asthma reactions.
The medications used above cannot cure asthma but rather are used to manage the
condition by relieving the allergic reactions that patient have. However, through regular use of
long-term treatment methods, the respiratory system of the patient improves leading to reduced
or low asthma attacks allowing the patient to lead a normal life (Corsico, Cazzoletti, Marco, &
Janson, 2007). However, self-management of the condition is the required way of managing the

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condition by allowing patients to manage exposure to allergic pathogens that can cause reactions.
Personal care is the most important determinant of exposure and frequency of attacks that the
patient experiences. Children should be assisted to stay away from conditions that can cause
allergic reactions.
Question four: Asthma management education standard for parents and children before
discharge
According to the National Asthma Council of Australia (2018), the following standards are
relevant in managing asthma. The role of this standards is to provide parents with adequate
eductation on management of asthma in children thhoruhg self-management strategies that can
be appled for first aid. Since Australia is one of the leading countries with asthma deaths, the
standards are critical in setting conditions for mitigating the problem and achieving improved
care in children for a better Australia.
a) Every general practice or primary care for the child must have a named lead person
responsible for the condition. The role of the lead person is to offer follow up support to
the patient.
b) Children are supposed to receive medication based on established quality standards.
c) All children should receive a structured review at least twice a year.
d) Parents should ensure that children receive adequate clinical time for assessment of
asthma. This can assist in mitigating the problem at a younger age before it escalates.
e) All children should receive specific training and assessment in inhaler techniques before
they start using the inhaler.
f) Personalise action plans should be given to children to allow them manage the condition
on their own.

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g) Children should be supported to achieve self-management as a way of ensuring that they
meet the required medical conditions.
h) Children who receive asthma treatment in other places should be followed up by their
own general practitioner.
i) All children with asthma should have an appropriate plan for transition to adulthood.

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References
Anandan, C., Nurmatov, U., O., V. S., & Sheikh, A. (2010). Is the prevalence of asthma
declining? Systematic review of epidemiological studies. Allergy, 65(2), 152-167.
Bostantzoglou, C., Delimpoura, V., Samitas, K., Zervas, E., Kanniess, F., & Gaga, M. (2015).
Clinical asthma phenotypes in the real world: opportunities and challenges. Breathe,
11(3), 186-193.
Corsico, A. G., Cazzoletti, L., Marco, R. d., & Janson, C. (2007). Factors affecting adherence to
asthma treatment in an international cohort of young and middle-aged adults. Respiratory
Medicine, 101, 1363-1367.
NationalAsthmaCouncilofAustralia. (2018). Asthma & Allergy. Retrieved from National Asthma
Council of Australia:
https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/resources/patients-carers/
brochures/asthma-allergy#at
Tan, D., Walters, E., Perret, J., Lodge, C., Lowe, A., Matheson, M., & Dharmage, S. (2015).
Age-of-asthma onset as a determinant of different asthma phenotypes in adults: a
systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Expert review of respiratory
medicine, 9(1), 109-123.
Tippets, B., & Guilbert, T. (2009). Managing Asthma in Children: Part 1: Making the Diagnosis,
Assessing Severity. Consultant for Pediatricians, 8(1).
Woolcock, A. J., Bastiampillai, S., Marks, G., & Keena, V. (2011). The burden of asthma in
Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 175(3), 141-145.
Zitt, M. (2013). The role of nonsedating antihistamines in asthma therapy. Allergy Asthma
Proceedings, 4(4), 239-52.

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