Asthma (1*)

Question 1

How does it present?

Severity:
What are the signs of a moderate attack?

What are the signs of a severe attack?

What are the signs of a life-threatening attack?

Answer 1

➊ • SOB
• Tachypnoea
• Expiratory wheeze
• Chest tightness
• Cough

➋ • Peak flow > 50% predicted
• Normal speech

➌ • Peak flow < 50%
• Unable to complete sentences in one breath
• Sats < 92%
• Respiratory distress
• Tachypnoea
• Tachycardia

➍ 33, 92 CHEST:
• PEF < 33%
• Sats < 92%
• Cyanosis
• Hypotension
• Exhaustion, altered consciousness
• Silent chest
• Tachyarrhythmias

Question 2

How is it managed?

Answer 2

• Supplementary O2
• Bronchodilators – Followed as:
‣ Salbutamol
‣ Ipratropium bromide
‣ Magnesium sulphate
‣ Aminophylline
• For moderate/severe cases, oral Prednisolone or iv Hydrocortisone is given