Ashtma

Question 1

What is Asthma ?

Answer 1

• An acute or subacute inflammation of the airways, that causes occasional breathing problems.

Question 2

Causes ?

Answer 2

• Idiopathic
• Allergens
• Exercise
• Aspirin
• Respiratory infections (cold, pneumonia, sinusitis)
• Gastrophageal reflux disease

Question 3

Symptoms?

Answer 3

• Frequent, intermittent coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Chest pain (particularly in young children)
• Wheezing or Whistling while exhaling

Question 4

Workup?

Answer 4

• Fractional excretion of Nitric oxide (FENO)
• Spirometry
• ABG
• X-ray
• Skin test for specific antigen (for allergy)

Question 5

Differential diagnosis?

Answer 5

• Upper airway obstruction
• Eosinophilic pneumonia
• COPD
• LV failure

Question 6

Treatment?

Answer 6

• Avoid trigger factors
  • Medication :
• Step 1 —> Inhaled SABA (albuterol)
  If not enough add + …
• Step 2 —> Inhaled corticosteroid at low dose 200-800mg/day
  If not enough add + …
• Step 3 —> LABA (salmeterol)
  If not enough add + …
• Step 4 —> Increase inhaled steroid up to 2000mg/day + add leukotriene receptor agonist