One in five asthmatic patients are sensitive to aspirin, yet many are unaware that they are at risk of a potentially life threatening reaction known as aspirin induced asthma, warn researchers in this week's BMJ.
Aspirin induced asthma is a severe reaction to aspirin and other commonly used painkillers, but controversy exists over its prevalence.
Researchers analysed 21 studies of asthmatic patients and found the prevalence of aspirin induced asthma to be 21% in adults and 5% in children.
Most of these patients were also sensitive to over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac, but only 7% of them were sensitive to paracetamol.
Since aspirin and NSAIDs are often self prescribed, patients diagnosed with asthma should be alerted to the possibility of aspirin induced asthma by their healthcare professional, say the authors.
They recommend including simple, standardised warnings on packs of aspirin and NSAIDs, alerting asthmatic patients to the potential risks.
'"/>
Contact: Emma Dickinson
edickinson@bmj.com
44-207-383-6529
BMJ-British Medical Journal
19-Feb-2004
Page: 1 Related medicine news :1.
Study proves flu shot safe for asthmatics2.
Physicians miss opportunities to improve care for oldest asthmatics3.
New highly active agents against sandfly fever4.
Engineers develop biowarfare sensing elements for future highly sensitive nerve-gas detectors5.
Patients with cancer have highly increased risk for blood clots6.
Inflammatory cells highly promising target in NF 17.
Multi-center study finds therapy boosts kidney transplants in highly sensitized patients8.
Columbia Univ. Medical Center wins highly competitive stroke grant from NIH9.
Study showed vitamin D inadequacy highly prevalent among women treated for osteoporosis10.
World mental health surveys find mental disorders highly prevalent and often untreated11.
MRI highly useful in the evaluation of patients with uterine fibroids