Asthma

Question 1

What are the clinical Manifestations of Asthma?

Answer 1

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• SOB
• Exercise Intolerance
• Chest tightness
• Tachypnea
• Tachycardia
• Cyanosis
• Diminished air movement
• Retractions
• Agitation
• Inability to speak
• Tripod sitting position
• Diaphoresis ( excessive sweating)
• Pulsus paradoxus ( decrease in blood pressure more than 15 mmHg with inspiration)

Question 2

What are some of the common exacerbating factors of Asthma?

Answer 2

• Respiratory infections
• Exposure to allergens and irritants ( ex smoke, air pollution , strong odours, fumes)
• Exercise
• Emotions
• Change in weather/humidity

Question 3

What are some factors that can aggravate Asthma?

Answer 3

Rhinosinusitis
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Aspirin

Question 4

What is the purpose of Spirometry in the diagnosis of Asthma?

Answer 4

• It is used to monitor response to treatment
• Assess the degree of reversibility with Therapeutic intervention
• Measure the severity of an asthma exacerbation

Question 5

At what age are children able to perform a Spirometry manoeuvre?

Answer 5

5 years and older

Question 6

What is a simple, inexpensive way to measure asthma control at home?

Answer 6

Peak expiratory Flow

Question 7

What are some differential diagnosis of cough and wheeze in infants and children?

Answer 7

Upper Airway Disease
* Allergic rhinitis
* Sinusitis

Obstruction involving Large Airways
* Tracheal or bronchial foreign body
* Paradoxical vocal fold motion
* Vascular rings or laryngeal webs
* Enlarged lymph nodes of tumour

Obstruction involving small airways
* Viral bronchitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
* Cystic fibrosis
* Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Other
* Recurrent cough
* Aspiration from swallowing mechanism dysfunction or GERD
* Heart failure , pulmonary oedema

Question 8

What are the causes of Cough in the first months of life?

Answer 8

C - Cystic fibrosis

R - Respiratory Tract infections

A- Aspiration ( Swallowing dysfunction, GERD, Tracheoesophageal fistula, foreign body)

D - Dyskinetic cilia , Kartagener Syndrome

L - Lung and airway malformations ( laryngeal webs, laryngotracheomalacia, tracheal stenosis , vascular rings and slings)

E - Edema ( heart failure, CHD)