asthma

Question 1

what is acute asthma?

Answer 1

worsening dyspnoea, wheeze and cough that is not responding to salbutamol.

Question 2

what can trigger acute asthma?

Answer 2

maybe triggered by a respiratory tract infection

Question 3

moderate acute asthma

Answer 3

PERF 50-75% best or predicted
speech normal
RR <25/min
pulse <110bpm

Question 4

severe acute asthma

Answer 4

PERF 33-50% best or predicted.
can’t complete sentences.
RR>25min
pulse>110bpm

Question 5

life-threatening

Answer 5

PERF<33% best or predicted
oxygen sats <92%
silent chest, cyanosis, or feeble respiratory effort.
bradycardia, dysrhythmia or hypertension.
exhaustion, confusion or coma.

Question 6

what is asthma?

Answer 6

chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways secondary to type 1 hypersensitivity.

Question 7

factors that increase the risk of a person developing asthma

Answer 7

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

Question 8

what other IgE-mediated atopic conditions may asthmatics suffer from?

Answer 8

atopic dermatitis.

allergic rhinitis.

Question 9

symptoms of asthma

Answer 9

cough often worse at night
dyspnoea
wheeze, chest tightness

Question 10

signs of asthma

Answer 10

expiratory wheeze on auscultation.

reduced peak expiratory flow rate.

Question 11

what is used to investigate asthma?

Answer 11

spirometry

Question 12

what is spirometry?

Answer 12

spirometry is a test which measures the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air during exhaustion and inhalation.

Question 13

what is an obstructive respiratory disorder?

Answer 13

conditions where there is obstructive airflow, for example due to bronchoconstriction in asthma.

Question 14

what is a restrictive lung condition?

Answer 14

where there is restriction to the lungs, for example lung fibrosis.

Question 15

FEV1

Answer 15

forced expiratory volume - volume that has been exhaled at the end of the first second of forced expiration.

Question 16

FVC:

Answer 16

forced vital capacity - volume that has been exhaled after a maximal expiration following a full inspiration.

Question 17

FEV1 in asthma

Answer 17

significantly reduced

Question 18

FVC in asthma

Answer 18

normal

Question 19

FEV1%

Answer 19

<70%

Question 20

example of SABA

Answer 20

salbutamol

Question 21

SABA

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Inhaled corticosteroids examples

Answer 22

beclometasone
dipropionate
flucticasone
propionate

Question 23

inhaled corticosteroids

Answer 23

used in patients whose asthma is not controlled by SABA alone.
taken everyday, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms.

Question 24

side effects of inhaled corticosteroids

Answer 24

oral candidias and stunted growth inchildren

Question 25

example of LABA

Answer 25

salmetrol

Question 26

LABA

Answer 26

taken everyday regardless of whether or not as patient has symptoms.

Question 27

example of leukotriene receptor antagonists

Answer 27

monteleukast