Asthma and Pregnancy – Comorbid and Coexisting

Sandra N. Gonzalez-Diaz¹*, Claudia I. Gallego Corella², Gabriela Galindo Rodríguez², Lucia Leal Villarreal², Alfredo Arias Cruz² and José Antonio Buenfil López²

¹Head and professor of Regional Centre of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Monterrey, Mexico

²Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunlogy, Regional Centre of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Monterrey, Mexico.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gonzalezdiazsandra@gmail.com and sgonzalez@medicinauanl.mx

Accepted 03 December, 2012

Abstract

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disorder to complicate pregnancy. Epidemiologically the females are 10% more likely than males to be diagnosed as having asthma in their lifetime. Asthma has been reported to affect 3.7 to 8.4 percent of pregnant women, and higher than 12% in women between 18-24 years. Asthma is considered the most common serious medical problem that could complicate pregnancy. During pregnancy the severity of asthma often changes, hence the patients need close follow up and monitoring exacerbations. The focus of asthma treatment in pregnant women is achieved the control of symptoms and maintenance of normal lung function. Poorly controlled of asthma can have an adverse effect on the fetus, resulting in increased perinatal mortality, increased prematurity and low birth weight. Acute exacerbations should be treatment aggressively in order to avoid fetal hypoxia. Treatment should include supplement oxygen, β-2 agonist and systemic corticosteroids. The evidence suggests that the risks of uncontrolled asthma are greater than any known risks from medication. The overall perinatal prognosis for children born to women with asthma that is well-controlled during pregnancy is comparable to that for children born to women without asthma.

Keywords:  asthma, pregnancy, pregnant medication, delivery, fetal growth, fetal risk.