asthma Flashcards
what is acute asthma?
worsening dyspnoea, wheeze and cough that is not responding to salbutamol.
what can trigger acute asthma?
maybe triggered by a respiratory tract infection
moderate acute asthma
PERF 50-75% best or predicted
speech normal
RR <25/min
pulse <110bpm
severe acute asthma
PERF 33-50% best or predicted.
can’t complete sentences.
RR>25min
pulse>110bpm
life-threatening
PERF<33% best or predicted
oxygen sats <92%
silent chest, cyanosis, or feeble respiratory effort.
bradycardia, dysrhythmia or hypertension.
exhaustion, confusion or coma.
what is asthma?
chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways secondary to type 1 hypersensitivity.
factors that increase the risk of a person developing asthma
a personal or family history of atopy. maternal smoking, viral infection during pregnancy, low birth rate, not being breastfed, exposure to high concentrations of allergens. airway pollution
what other IgE-mediated atopic conditions may asthmatics suffer from?
atopic dermatitis.
allergic rhinitis.
symptoms of asthma
cough often worse at night
dyspnoea
wheeze, chest tightness
signs of asthma
expiratory wheeze on auscultation.
reduced peak expiratory flow rate.
what is used to investigate asthma?
spirometry
what is spirometry?
spirometry is a test which measures the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air during exhaustion and inhalation.
what is an obstructive respiratory disorder?
conditions where there is obstructive airflow, for example due to bronchoconstriction in asthma.
what is a restrictive lung condition?
where there is restriction to the lungs, for example lung fibrosis.
FEV1
forced expiratory volume - volume that has been exhaled at the end of the first second of forced expiration.
FVC:
forced vital capacity - volume that has been exhaled after a maximal expiration following a full inspiration.
FEV1 in asthma
significantly reduced
FVC in asthma
normal
FEV1%
<70%
example of SABA
salbutamol
SABA
first-line drug to be used in the management of asthma.
typically used if the patient develops symtoms,
work by relaxing the smooth muscle of airways.
side-effects include tremor.
Inhaled corticosteroids examples
beclometasone
dipropionate
flucticasone
propionate
inhaled corticosteroids
used in patients whose asthma is not controlled by SABA alone.
taken everyday, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms.
side effects of inhaled corticosteroids
oral candidias and stunted growth inchildren
example of LABA
salmetrol
LABA
taken everyday regardless of whether or not as patient has symptoms.
example of leukotriene receptor antagonists
monteleukast
