Triad asthma is a rare form of asthma that requires three unique symptoms: the presence of asthma, nasal polyps that may often return, even once they’re removed, and issues taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Ibuprofen.
Asthma is a long-term condition that involves the tubes that carry air to the lungs to become inflamed and potentially narrow at times, which can make it hard to breathe. It can affect people of all ages and may get worse when triggered by certain things, like cold air, exercise, or having a cold.
Nasal polyps are non-cancerous cell growths on the inside of the nose or sinuses, the hollow passages that run alongside the nose. They are harmless, but they can affect one’s ability to breathe if they become large enough and may require surgery to remove.
Common symptoms of triad asthma include:
Exposure to NSAIDs can cause symptoms like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, runny nose, watery eyes, and redness in the face and neck in people with triad asthma.
The causes of triad asthma are not completely understood. While the causes of these conditions as separate events are known, what causes them to occur together is still a bit of a mystery. Research shows that triad asthma is a condition that causes an overactivation of the immune system, resulting in increased inflammation in the lungs – which leads to asthma.
It’s also believed that when people with triad asthma take NSAIDs, they experience a greater release of inflammatory substances from the immune system than someone without triad asthma would – causing an allergic reaction instead of actually helping manage pain and inflammation in the body.
Since the disease itself is not well understood, there are not any known risk factors for developing triad asthma. However, it is most commonly diagnosed in older adults that are over 20, so age may play a role in the development of triad asthma.
Since triad asthma is so rare, it can be difficult to receive a correct diagnosis. Many patients with either asthma or nasal polyps – or both- have triad asthma that is undiagnosed. If your medical history and current symptoms give your physician a reason to suspect you may have triad asthma, diagnosis is very straightforward.
One of the reasons it can be hard to diagnose is because patients may not report having had an allergic reaction to an NSAID. If your physician wants a definitive diagnosis, they will probably give you a small dose of an NSAID like Ibuprofen.
If you have an allergic reaction and also present with asthma and nasal polyps, or have experienced those conditions in the past, your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of triad asthma.
Triad asthma can be treated several ways. Daily medications are necessary for most people with triad asthma to treat the inflammation in the body. Inhalers are also prescribed in the event of an asthma attack. Nasal polyps can be treated with medication and surgery.
Desensitisation to aspirin is an effective long-term treatment for many patients, reducing their incidence of nasal polyps and reducing the need for steroid medications.
Biologics are also available as a newer treatment option. Biologics try to target and inhibit the cells that are causing the symptoms of triad asthma in the first place.