Treatment with oral or inhaled bronchodilator without inhaled corticosteroids in bronchial asthma: A dangerous weapon!

Abstract

Abstract Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic lung disease in the obstructive airway disease category with the characteristic feature of “reversible” airflow obstruction. Despite an increase in awareness of risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options available to treat bronchial asthma, more than half of cases received irrational treatment. Inadequate treatment is reasoning more morbidity and mortality of this easily treatable disease. Inhaled short- and long-acting bronchodilators, antimuscarinic agents, and inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the cornerstone of the treatment of asthma and are categorized as “rescue and controller” role in disease management. Bronchodilators without ICSs are not recommended because of more harm than benefit in bronchial asthma. ICSs are the gold standard and the recommended treatment for asthma due to their anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying property labeled as “game changer role.” Bronchodilators with ICSs will have added benefit of symptom control, improvement in quality of life, and decrease in exacerbation. Combo of bronchodilators with ICSs will decrease the overall cost of care in asthma by improving disease control and decrease in emergency room visits and hospitalizations in intensive care units due to exacerbations.