Asthma Types

Asthma can make someone its victim at any age. A 2 to 6 years old child is most likely to get this infectious disease because of asthma triggering agents like allergens such as dust mites, tobacco smoke, and a viral infection in the respiratory organs.

It becomes almost impossible to diagnose Asthma in the children at an age of less than 2 years. One of the asthmatic symptoms wheezing may be caused by viral infection also which prevents the doctor to diagnose the child for asthma as the wheezing disappears after some time.

And it may develop again at an older age leading to asthma. However, asthma can develop at an old age too, especially, in middle aged women. More often, non allergic triggers are the cause of asthma at such an age.

Base on the characteristics of asthma it is of two types:

• Allergic (Extrinsic)
• Non-allergic (Intrinsic) asthma

When your doctor explains asthma as extrinsic or intrinsic you might get confused. It can be understood better by understanding the nature of asthma. Then only you will be able to differentiate between the two.

Allergic Asthma (Extrinsic)

Extrinsic asthma normally develops in the childhood. Almost 90 percent of the cases have shown such evidence. 80% of the children suffering from asthma also have documented allergies. A typical family history of allergies is found to be there. Extrinsic asthma is also caused by various other allergic conditions like fever or eczema. Manifestation of allergic asthma often occurs in the adulthood. However, in early adulthood it is subsided.

Non-allergic Asthma (Intrinsic)

Ten percent of all cases represent Intrinsic asthma. It has almost no relation with allergies. It typically makes the people at the age of 30 its victim. Women are among most of the victims of intrinsic asthma and it develops respiratory tract infection in them. This condition is very difficult to handle and the symptoms are chronic in nature.