asthma

Question 1

what is the definition of asthma?

Answer 1

No actual definition and tests for asthma, symptom based, symptoms are identical to LRTI, a relapse and remission often.

If the child doesn’t wheeze NO ASTHMA

Question 2

when should inhalers be given?

Answer 2

If their symptoms affect quality of life, give them a trial of inhaled steroids to confirm the diagnosis (in asthma very blurred line between diagnosis and treatment as a result)

Question 3

what presentation is required to diagnose asthma?

Answer 3

Need wheeze, cough, and shortness of breath to be diagnosed, normal trigger is URTI, characterised by variability/responds to asthma treatment.

Question 4

how is allergy linked to asthma?

Answer 4

Allergy is most likely NOT a cause of asthma, but allergy is linked to asthma because of primary epithelial abnormality (skin/airway/gut) which allows allergen to get to immune system and then it fuels eczema/asthma

Question 5

when diagnosing asthma, what is more significant, history or examination?

Answer 5

All in the history, examination is unhelpful.
Tests can be useful when excluding asthma (excluding>diagnosing)

Question 6

what is the genetic link to asthma?

Answer 6

Up to 80% of asthma can be linked to genetics, 10 variants that contribute but even if predisposed to these genes, it is interaction with the environment that ‘pulls the trigger’

Question 7

when is it NOT asthma?

Answer 7

Asthma is not a diagnosis of exclusion, all that is chronic, paediatric, and respiratory is not asthma

Under 18 months, most likely infection. Over 5, most likely asthma

But if child has cough, wheeze and SOB, has a parent and siblings with asthma and eczema, most likely asthma regardless of age.