Breathing is one of the most important parts of your life and daily routine. It is a process in which a person moves air in and out through the airways of the lungs. But sometimes airways do not work properly and become swollen, the reason behind this is dust, pollen, and weather changes. These conditions show the chances of asthma, but until the symptoms are confirmed, doctors refer to it as RAD(Reactive Airway Disease). Most people are confused about whether this condition is called asthma or reactive airway disease. In this blog, we will explore all the key characteristics of asthma vs reactive airway disease to better understand their differences and symptoms.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung disease in which a person’s airways become narrow or swollen. In this condition, the person also faces problems like difficulty in breathing, cough, and wheezing. When asthma affects the child’s lungs, which are very sensitive. Their airways are getting very small and need immediate asthma treatment and medications. Asthma does not have a proper cure, but we can control and manage it with some medication and lifestyle planning.
Key Characteristics of Asthma
- It is a chronic disease that has no long-term cure.
- Environmental exposure and viral infection can trigger asthma.
- It can be measured through spirometry or peak flow monitoring.
- Managing through inhalers, medications, and avoidance triggers.
- Following a healthy action plan to control and manage this asthma.
What is Reactive Airway Disease (RAD)?
Reactive airway disease(RAD) is usually used as a temporary term to treat until asthma is confirmed. When a young child has a lung problem and a certain lung test, the doctor uses this term as a temporary disease.
RAD is a short-term disease that is identified and treated in a clinical setting. When anyone has minor symptoms of asthma and it has not been confirmed, then reactive airway terms are used to diagnose.
Key Characteristics of Reactive Airway Disease(RAD)
- It is a term that has similar symptoms to asthma, like coughing, wheezing, and chest pain.
- Seems to occur in young children, especially after weather changes or viral infection.
- It is a temporary term that is used by many doctors, and it is not a formal diagnosis.
- RAD does not have a specific test, its diagnosis is based on observed symptoms.
- Using inhalers or nebulizers to treat as same as asthma.
Asthma vs Reactive Airway Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis
Here we describe a short comparison of asthma vs reactive airway disease, and also talk about symptoms, causes, and their treatment.
| Features | Asthma | Reactive Airway Disease(RAD) |
| Defination | A long-term condition that can affect the airways of the lungs. | It is a simple term that is similar to asthma, especially found in young children. |
| Symptoms | Asthma symptoms include chest pain, breathing problems, and coughing. | RAD has similar symptoms to asthma. |
| Cause | Happen through smoking, pollution, weather change, or allergens. | It happens through viral infection, exercise, or chemical gases. |
| Diagnosis | Using lung function tests, medical history, and physical exam. | No specific test: diagnosed based on symptoms when asthma can’t be confirmed. |
| Treatment | Suggest Inhalers like bronchodilators and corticosteroids, and also long-term adjustments. | Same as asthma: Epinephrine injection, bronchodilators, and oxygen therapy. |
Symptoms of Asthma and RAD
It is very difficult to differentiate between asthma and reactive airway disease(RAD) because they share many similar symptoms.
Symptoms of Asthma
In asthma, symptoms are often caused by allergies, cold air, exercise, or weather changes. Its symptoms are worse in the morning and at night, so it is important to take care of it. Some asthma symptoms:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Breathing problem
- Airways swelling
Symptoms of RAD
RAD’s symptoms are also the same as asthma because it is a temporary term, not a chronic disease or condition. Generally, its symptoms occur after a respiratory infection and irritation from dust or smoke. Some similar symptoms of RAD:
- Chronic coughing
- Mild chest pain
- Difficulty in the breathing process
- Wheezing problem
- Excess mucus
Comparing the Root Causes of Asthma and Reactive Airway Disease(RAD)
Asthma and RAD(Reactive airway disease) both have common symptoms, but their root causes are quite different. Asthma is a leading chronic lung disease and breathing condition typically caused by genetic factors, environmental exposures, and a weak immune system. Its causes develop over time, which are influenced by multiple factors, including:
- Genetic(Family history)
- Weather changes like cold air
- Exercise before warm-up
- Allergens through Chemical, Perfume, Dust, or smoke
- High level of stress
As we know, RAD(Reactive airway disease) is a temporary term which are treated before a diagnosis of asthma. It happens due to acute factors like viral infection, air pollution, and physical activity. Its causes are quite different from asthma, which include:
- Viral infection
- Physical activity
- Air pollution
- Previous lung disease
- Environmental irritants
How to Diagnose Asthma and Reactive Airway Disease?
Asthma and reactive airway disease are diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms. The doctor is deeply examining asthma vs reactive airway disease for further effective treatment.
Diagnosing Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition that is typically diagnosed through different types of tests. It helps to identify the causes of asthma attacks and for effective treatment.
- Medical History: Dr. checking his family history of asthma and allergies because this condition can sometimes be caused by genetic factors.
- Physical Exam: In this, listening to abnormal sounds of breathing and wheezing.
- Pulmonary Function Tests: It is also known as a spirometry test, which is very common for measuring how quickly you can exhale.
- Peak Expiratory Flow: It is a type of measurement that tests air moving in and out of your lungs.
- Allergy Testing: It is needed to identify the specific allergies that may trigger asthma.
- Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test: This test is conducted to measure airway inflammation in your body.
Diagnosing Reactive Airway Disease(RAD)
RAD is a short-term infection or a term that occurs due to a viral infection or irritants like dust, smoke, or air pollution. Its diagnoses are usually included:
- Symptom History: Recent triggering factors such as viral infection and coughing or wheezing.
- Physical Exam: Observing your breathing or wheezing.
Treatment and Medications for Asthma and Reactive Airway Disease
Asthma is a long-term lung disease whose treatment usually focuses on managing and controlling symptoms and preventing asthma attacks. It does not have proper treatment, you can only manage it with some medications and lifestyle changes.
Treatment and Medications for Asthma
Your doctor diagnoses your symptoms and writes a prescription depending on your condition. Some useful medication and treatment names are:
Inhalers
Inhalers are the most common asthma treatment that doctors usually prescribe. It helps to reduce breathing problems that can be caused by asthma. This is a type of machine or device that provides medicine through the airways in your lungs. There are two types of inhalers:
- Rescue Inhalers: It is used to quickly open the airways in your lungs during asthma attacks.
- Controller Inhalers: It is a daily used inhaler for asthma that can help to reduce inflammation and prevent attacks.
Avoiding Triggers
It is also a type of treatment where you can by avoiding triggers you can reducing your asthma attacks. Always keep away from things that can make asthma more troubling, like dust, smoke, or cold air.
Medications
Medications are one of the ways to control and manage asthma. Your healthcare provider prescribes medicine based on your condition to reduce inflammation or allergies. Medicines like inhaled corticosteroids, theophylline, or leukotriene modifiers are used for quick relief.
Monitoring
- You can monitor by using a peak flow meter, which can help manage asthma at home.
- Observing your symptoms can help catch asthma in the early stages.
Treatment and Medications for RAD
RAD is a short-term infection or a term which caused by environmental exposure(dust, smoke, or cold) or a viral infection. It is an initial term or phase of asthma to diagnosed at an early stage. RAD is treated as a clinical description because these diseases are found especially in young children. Its symptoms are similar to asthma. Before diagnosing asthma, the doctor can provide medicine to treat as reactive airway disease to relieve the symptoms.
- Inhalers or Nebulizers: The doctor may suggest you use inhalers or a nebulizer because they help to reduce breathing problems and give relief from a cough.
- Treating the Cause: If symptoms are minor and triggered by a cold or any viral infection, treatment may focus on easing the infection. It also aims to reduce swelling in the airways.
- Avoiding Irritants: Always keep away from dust, smoke, and strong perfumes that can cause reactive airway disease. Avoiding irritants can help prevent further infection or disease.
- Observation: Your healthcare professional often watches your symptoms over time to see the improvement or progression of asthma later. Observation can help prevent asthma or major diseases.
Why the Confusion Between Asthma and RAD?
In Athma and RAD(Reactive Airway Disease), People are confused because they have common symptoms and similar causes. Coughing, wheezing, and chest pain are the symptoms of asthma, which are also found in RAD.
A reactive airway disease is a term that is commonly used when young children have asthma-like symptoms. Until asthma is diagnosed, it is treated as a disease. Asthma is nothing but a lung disease in which people have breathing problems. So RAD is just a temporary term for symptoms that could eventually be diagnosed as asthma as a person grows up. It is leading to confusion between Asthma and RAD.
Conclusion
Both Asthma and Reactive airway disease are lung diseases that are diagnosed based on their condition or symptoms. While Asthma vs Reactive airway disease have common symptoms, but it quite different in causes or treatment. A RAD is a short-term disease which diagnosed as clinical description. When you feel chest pain while breathing, immediately consult with your doctor. Because it may have symptoms of asthma or reactive airway disease.