Allergic asthma

Astma je jedna od najčešćih bolesti respiratornog sustava. Vodeći je uzrok obolijevanja i smrti širom svijeta. Procjenjuje se da više od 20% stanovništva boluje od alergijskih bolesti poput alergijske astme, konjunktivitisa, rinitisa, atopijskog dermatitisa i anafilaksije. Alergijska astma je najčešći tip astme u dječjoj i odrasloj dobi. To je kronična bolest sa reverzibilnom bronhalnom opstrukcijom. Opstrukcija je uzrokovana upalom, edemom i kontrakcijom glatkih mišića u dišnim putevima. Alergeni koji dospiju u dišni sustav uzrokuju reakciju preosjetljivosti , luče se brojne upalne stanice i dovode do karakterističnih promjena. Najčešći alergeni koji uzrokuju napadaje su pelud, prašina, životinjska dlaka, različite trave. Simptomi asmatskog napadaja su dispneja, kašalj, visokotonsko zviždanje tijekom ekspirija praćeno stezanjem u prsima ili kombinacija ovih simptoma. Asmatski status je naziv za napad koji dugo traje, progresivan je i ne reagira na terapiju. Potrebna je hospitalizacija jer može dovesti do smrtnog ishoda. Dijagnostika, kasifikacija i kontrola astme su definirani Globalnom inicijativom za astmu (GINA). Alergijska astma se dijagnosticira anamnezom, kliničkim pregledom, krvnim pretragama, alergijskim testovima i spirometrijom (zlatni strandard). Liječenje uključuje izbjegavanje alergena i farmakološku terapiju (bronhodilatatori, kortikosteroidi). U kontroli astme važna je edukacija, pravilno uzimanje lijekova, vježbe disanja i relaksacije i izbjegavanje uzročnih faktora.Asthma is very common disease of respiratory system. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. It is estimated that over 20% of world population suffers from allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis. Allergic asthma is the most common type asthma in children and adults. It is chronic disease with reversible bronchial obstruction. The obstruction is caused by inflammation, edema and smooth muscles contractions in airways. Allergens inhaled in airways cause hypersensitive reaction, many inflammation cells are produced and all that leads to characteristic changes. The most common allergens that cause attacks are pollen, dust, animal hair, some plants. The symptoms of asthma attack are dyspnea, cough, high tone wheezing during expiration followed with chest squeezing, or with combination of those symptoms. Status asthmaticus it is a term for progressive, long lasting attack that does not respond to usual therapy. Hospitalization is necessary because it can lead to death. Diagnostics, classification and control of asthma are defined by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Allergic asthma is diagnosed by history, clinical examination, blood and allergy tests and spirometry (gold standard). The treatment includes avoiding of allergens and pharmacotherapy (bronchodilatators, corticosteroids). Asthma can be controlled with regular education and drug use, breathing and relaxation exercises and avoidance of causative factors

Allergic asthma

Astma je jedna od najčešćih bolesti respiratornog sustava. Vodeći je uzrok obolijevanja i smrti širom svijeta. Procjenjuje se da više od 20% stanovništva boluje od alergijskih bolesti poput alergijske astme, konjunktivitisa, rinitisa, atopijskog dermatitisa i anafilaksije. Alergijska astma je najčešći tip astme u dječjoj i odrasloj dobi. To je kronična bolest sa reverzibilnom bronhalnom opstrukcijom. Opstrukcija je uzrokovana upalom, edemom i kontrakcijom glatkih mišića u dišnim putevima. Alergeni koji dospiju u dišni sustav uzrokuju reakciju preosjetljivosti , luče se brojne upalne stanice i dovode do karakterističnih promjena. Najčešći alergeni koji uzrokuju napadaje su pelud, prašina, životinjska dlaka, različite trave. Simptomi asmatskog napadaja su dispneja, kašalj, visokotonsko zviždanje tijekom ekspirija praćeno stezanjem u prsima ili kombinacija ovih simptoma. Asmatski status je naziv za napad koji dugo traje, progresivan je i ne reagira na terapiju. Potrebna je hospitalizacija jer može dovesti do smrtnog ishoda. Dijagnostika, kasifikacija i kontrola astme su definirani Globalnom inicijativom za astmu (GINA). Alergijska astma se dijagnosticira anamnezom, kliničkim pregledom, krvnim pretragama, alergijskim testovima i spirometrijom (zlatni strandard). Liječenje uključuje izbjegavanje alergena i farmakološku terapiju (bronhodilatatori, kortikosteroidi). U kontroli astme važna je edukacija, pravilno uzimanje lijekova, vježbe disanja i relaksacije i izbjegavanje uzročnih faktora.Asthma is very common disease of respiratory system. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. It is estimated that over 20% of world population suffers from allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis. Allergic asthma is the most common type asthma in children and adults. It is chronic disease with reversible bronchial obstruction. The obstruction is caused by inflammation, edema and smooth muscles contractions in airways. Allergens inhaled in airways cause hypersensitive reaction, many inflammation cells are produced and all that leads to characteristic changes. The most common allergens that cause attacks are pollen, dust, animal hair, some plants. The symptoms of asthma attack are dyspnea, cough, high tone wheezing during expiration followed with chest squeezing, or with combination of those symptoms. Status asthmaticus it is a term for progressive, long lasting attack that does not respond to usual therapy. Hospitalization is necessary because it can lead to death. Diagnostics, classification and control of asthma are defined by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Allergic asthma is diagnosed by history, clinical examination, blood and allergy tests and spirometry (gold standard). The treatment includes avoiding of allergens and pharmacotherapy (bronchodilatators, corticosteroids). Asthma can be controlled with regular education and drug use, breathing and relaxation exercises and avoidance of causative factors

Psychological Status and Coping with Illness in Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Melanoma patients are subject to different degrees of psychosocial distress. The emotional impact of malignant melanoma can be long lasting and profound, with the most common reactions to melanoma being depression, anxiety and deterioration in quality of life. Coping styles have been shown to have a significant influence on patients\u27 quality of life and their emotional reaction to the illness. The aim of this paper was to investigate the quality of life, emotional status and coping styles in patients with melanoma. 31 patients suffering from malignant melanoma were included in the study. Results of this study show that melanoma has a medium influence on patients’ psychological status and quality of life. The most »constructive« coping style – problem focused coping is the mostly used style by the patients, which might be one of the reasons why the illness didn’t have a more severe influence on patients’ psychological status

Melanoma – Clinical, Dermatoscopical, and Histopathological Morphological Characteristics

Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin tumours with the constant rise in its incidence worldwide, especially in white populations. Melanoma is usually diagnosed at the average age of 50 years. However, in the last decades, it is more frequently diagnosed in younger adults, and very rarely in children. There is no unique or specific clinical presentation of melanoma. Clinical presentation of melanoma varies depending on the anatomic localization and the type of growth, namely the histopathologic type. There are four major histopathologic types of melanoma – superficial spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma. Dermatoscopy is very useful tool in the early melanoma detection however, dermatoscopic features of melanoma are also variable. Therefore, experience and education in dermatoscopy is crucial in the evaluation of skin tumours. Differential diagnosis of melanoma includes a wide range of benign and malignant skin lesions due to its clinical presentation and resemblance with various dermatological entities. In this review, authors are presenting the most important aspects of clinical, dermatoscopical and histopathologic features of melanoma.</p

Psychological Status and Illness Perceptions in Patients with Melanoma

A diagnosis of cancer and its treatment can create considerable distress, anxiety and depression for both patients and their families. The emotional impact of melanoma can be long lasting and profound, although the data in this field is inconsistent. Our last study showed that melanoma has a medium influence on patients’ psychological status and quality of life. The aim of this paper was to investigate illness perceptions in patients with melanoma and its correlations with quality of life and emotional status. 60 patients suffering from malignant melanoma were included in the study. Results of this study show that patients perceive melanoma as a relatively long lasting illness, relatively easy to control, but hard to cure; and as an illness with not many consequences to their health. The causes of melanoma as perceived by patients are exposure to sun, heredity, immunity and stress. Illness perceptions are correlated with patients’ quality of life, the influence illness has on the quality of life and depression