Asthma and allergies

Abstract

Asthma is a significant problem in the UK reported to affect approximately 5.2 million people; and occurring in 21% of children and 15% of adults. Allergy is an important component of asthma, and most people with asthma are sensitive to one or more common aeroallergens. Approximately 80% of people with asthma also have rhinitis (essentially a runny, blocked nose), which is associated with a significant impact on quality of life. This chapter covers asthma and its assessment and management, patient education, and an introduction to allergy. This also includes the allergic response, diagnosis, anaphylaxis, immunology, and care algorithms as other important aspects.