BRONCHIAL ASTHMA AND ALLERGY: MODERN DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT APPROACHES

Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous chronic respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, variable respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and variable expiratory airflow limitation. Allergic asthma is one of the most common phenotypes of asthma and is closely associated with an abnormal immune response to specific environmental allergens. The development of allergic asthma involves complex interactions between genetic predisposition, environmental allergens, air pollution, respiratory infections, tobacco smoke, and other risk factors. Modern allergology and immunology have significantly improved the diagnosis and management of asthma. Current diagnostic approaches include spirometry, bronchodilator responsiveness testing, peak expiratory flow monitoring, fractional exhaled nitric oxide assessment, blood eosinophil measurement, and allergological testing. Modern treatment is based on inhaled corticosteroid-containing therapy and an individualized approach according to disease severity, symptom control, exacerbation risk, and inflammatory phenotype. For patients with severe asthma, biological therapies targeting immunoglobulin E and specific type two inflammatory pathways have become an important part of modern treatment. The development of precision medicine has made it possible to select treatment according to individual clinical and immunological characteristics.