Childhood Asthma Deaths in North Carolina: 1999-2012

Asthma is chronic reversible obstruction of the small- an d medium-sized airways of the lung. It is caused by inflammation of the airway mucosa coupled with spasm of the circumferential smooth muscles that may be triggered by v iral infections, environmental allergens, or other irritants. Early in the disease pr ocess, this leads to airway obstruction and impaired airflow, which can be reversed with medica l therapy. With exacerbations of asthma, the goblet cells of the airway mucosa also relea se mucous secretions into the airways, which can further obstruct the airway lumen. Severe exacerbations of asthma with significantly reduced airflow can potentially compr omise gas exchange in the alveoli. Over time, remodeling of the airway occurs wi th more chronic inflammation, and irreversible obstructive changes can occur. Once these chang es have taken place, the disease may be less responsive to treatment.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Gower, William Adam

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/62645

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/62645