The diagnosis of bronchial asthma still presents considerable
difficulties for the local and family doctor, as it is largely based on the
assessment of the subjective indicators of the patient’s well-being. One of the
main problems in this regard is the need to differentiate asthma from allergic
diseases with similar symptoms. Despite similar symptoms, the principles of
treatment for asthma and, for example, allergic rhinitis are significantly
different.
Meanwhile, overdiagnosis of bronchial asthma (that is, the erroneous diagnosis
of such a patient who does not have it) leads them to take drugs that are
unnecessary in their case and do not give the desired effect. In some
countries, up to 30% of patients who are diagnosed with “bronchial
asthma” do not actually suffer from it. Soon, American doctors will be
able to diagnose asthma in a few minutes using a device that scientists from
the University of Wisconsin ( University of Wisconsin) have created. of
Wisconsin ). It is enough to apply a drop of the patient’s blood to the sensor
of the device, as he will quickly determine the presence or absence of asthma.
The principle of operation of such a diagnostic device is based on a phenomenon
discovered by Wisconsin scientists: they found that in patients with bronchial
asthma, chemotaxis, the directed movement of neutrophils, one of the types of
leukocytes, occurs much more slowly compared to patients suffering from other
diseases with similar symptoms – for example, allergic rhinitis .Trial tests of
the method with the participation of 23 patients diagnosed with bronchial
asthma and 11 patients with allergic rhinitis showed that the device determined
the presence of asthma with an accuracy of 96%.