What is reactive airway disease?

Question

My son was diagnosed with reactive airway disease on Thursday. My husband was the one who took him to the hospital so I didn't get an explanation to what it is. Is it the same as asthma? My son is 23 months.

Answer 1

Yes. it is the same as asthma. here is the definition:Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system in which the airways constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more "triggers," such as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. In children, the most common triggers are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold[1]. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most patients feel fine.

The disorder is a chronic or recurring inflammatory condition in which the airways develop increased responsiveness to various stimuli, characterized by bronchial hyper-responsiveness, inflammation, increased mucus production, and intermittent airway obstruction. The symptoms of asthma, which can range from mild to life threatening, can usually be controlled with a combination of drugs and lifestyle changes.

Public attention in the developed world has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence, affecting up to one in four urban children.[2] Susceptibility to asthma can be explained in part by genetic factors, but no clear pattern of inheritance has been found. Asthma is a complex disease that is influenced by multiple genetic, developmental, and environmental factors, which interact to produce the overall condition.Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Some doctors use the terms "reactive airway disease" and "asthma" interchangeably. However, they are not necessarily the same thing. "Reactive airway disease" is a general term and does not indicate a specific diagnosis. It may be used to describe a history of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath due to undetermined cause. These signs and symptoms may or may not be caused by asthma. Time or further testing will tell.

Use of the term "reactive airway disease" in part reflects the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of asthma in certain situations. This is especially true with very young children. Breathing tests needed to confirm a diagnosis of asthma are not practical in young children because they require cooperation and understanding to get good results. Children usually don't develop these skills until age 4 years — sometimes older

Answer 3

Some doctors use the terms "reactive airway disease" and "asthma" interchangeably. However, they are not necessarily the same thing. "Reactive airway disease" is a general term and does not indicate a specific diagnosis. It may be used to describe a history of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath due to undetermined cause. These signs and symptoms may or may not be caused by asthma. Time or further testing will tell. Notice I'm the first one to give you my "source" to my information. LOL

Use of the term "reactive airway disease" in part reflects the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of asthma in certain situations. This is especially true with very young children. Breathing tests needed to confirm a diagnosis of asthma are not practical in young children because they require cooperation and understanding to get good results. Children usually don't develop these skills until age 4 years — sometimes older.

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Answer 4

hi The reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS) is a type of occupational asthma without any period of latency and induced by irritants of low molecular weight. Occupational asthma could be defined as a reversible lung disorder characterized by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, and cough, which are caused by various agents found in the workplace. Incidence varies from 2 to 15% in adult work population; actually there is no data for the child population. Allergic occupational asthma is due to allergic sensitization to a specific substance or material present at the workplace; non-allergic occupational asthma occurs because of the high exposure to an irritant also at the workplace. Over the past few years, more people have been diagnosed as having asthma because of some workplace exposure. The identification of occupational asthma in workers is important because early detection may lead to the control of the worker's symptoms and control of the chemicals in the workplace. best eishes.

Answer 5

Reactive airway disease is a catchall term that includes asthma. It is usually used to denote milder forms, but you can think about it basically the same way. I can't say too much about your particular case since I'm an internist not a pediatrician, and your son is about 16 years too young to fall under my care, but hopefully this is a start.

Answer 6

Irritation of the bronchi due to chemicals, smoke. I have reactive airway and mine is caused by perfume. I have an asthma-like reaction - wheezing, coughing and mucus. I use albuterol and advair daily. I would bet your child will outgrow his adverse reactions to irritants.

Answer 7

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic363.htm