Assignment 3 – Case Studies

Asthma

Asthma is a common lung condition in kids and teens. It causes breathing problems, with
symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath. Anyone can have asthma, even babies, and
the tendency to develop it often runs in families.

Asthma affects the bronchial tubes, or airways. When someone breathes normally, air goes
in through the nose or mouth and then into the trachea (windpipe), through the bronchial
tubes, into the lungs, and finally back out again.

But people with asthma have inflamed airways that produce lots of thick mucus. The
airways also are overly sensitive to certain things, like exercise, dust, or cigarette smoke.
This hyperactivity makes the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways tighten up. The
combination of airway inflammation and muscle tightening narrows the airways and makes
it hard for air to move through.

1. Using your words, describe what Asthma is.

Asthma is a lung condition that causes breathing problems with most common symptom

being shortened breath.

2. How does Asthma affect the gas exchange in the alveoli of a person having this
problem?

Asthmatic patients have inflamed airways that produces a lot of mucus. When an

asthmatic person breathes, the combination of airway inflammation and muscle tightening

narrows the airways and makes it hard for air to move through. This makes it difficult for the

patient to breath.

3. Justify why fatigue and tiredness are main symptoms of Asthma for a young

child. Since the airways are inflamed and produce mucus, breathing become a problem.

Thus, when an asthmatic patient does physical activities like spots, his hyperactivity makes

the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways tighten up. This fatigues the child.
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3. Give two recommendations for people having asthma to reduce the symptoms that
they have

Asthmatic people need to used a Ventolin and need to reduce their rate of doing a lot of

hard physical efforts.

Read the text below about Bronchiolitis and answer the following questions.

About Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a common illness of the respiratory tract caused

by an infection that affects the tiny airways, called the
bronchioles that lead to the lungs. As these airways become
inflamed, they swell and fill with mucus, which can make
breathing difficult.

Bronchiolitis most often affects infants and young children

because their small airways can become blocked more easily
than those of older kids or adults. Childcare attendance and
exposure to cigarette smoke also can increase the likelihood
that an infant will develop bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a viral infection, most commonly respiratory syncytial

virus (RSV). RSV infections are responsible for more than half of all cases of bronchiolitis
and are most widespread in the winter and early spring. Other viruses associated with
bronchiolitis include rhinovirus, influenza (flu), and human metapneumovirus.

Questions

1. Using your words, describe what bronchiolitis is.

Just like asthma, it is another common illness of the respiratory system caused by

infections that affect the tiny airways.

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2. How does bronchiolitis affect the amount of Oxygen reaching the alveoli?

As a result of inflamed airways and the mucus formed, the child or patient develops a

difficulty in breathing in which the amount of oxygen is lessened

3. How does bronchiolitis affect the amount of carbon dioxide leaving the alveoli?

While oxygen is sent into the lungs, carbon dioxide is sent out of it. Therefore, as a result of

inflamed airways and the mucus formed, the child or patient develops a difficulty in

breathing in which the amount of carbon dioxide is also reduced.

4. Justify why fatigue and tiredness are main symptoms of bronchiolitis.

Due to difficulties in breathing, the more the patient tried to inhale as moch air as possible,

the more tired he gets.

5. It is well known that the infections that cause bronchiolitis are contagious. The virus can

spread in tiny drops of fluid from an infected person's nose and mouth, which may become

airborne via sneezes, coughs, or laughs, and also can end up on things the person has

touched, such as used tissues or toys. Recommend three ways to prevent the spread of

the virus.

a. Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing.

b. The infected person should avoid physical touch with others.

c. The parents should make sure that toys and others things that have been touched by the

infected person should be disinfected as soon as possible

Assignment 3 – Case Studies