asthma

Question 1

What is asthma?

Answer 1

inflammatory condition of the airway
variation in symptoms throughout the day
episodic worsening
cough, wheeze and breathlessness

Question 2

How common in asthma?

Answer 2

10% of the population

Question 3

What are the exacerbators of asthma?

Answer 3

infection
smoking
poor compliance/inhaler technique
environmental factors (cold air, pollen seasons, thunderstorm, house dust mite, animals)
stress
exercise

Question 4

What is the FEV1/FVC ratio in asthmatics?

Answer 4

<0.7

Question 5

Features that increase the probability of asthma

Answer 5

• more than one of wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough particularly if symptoms are worse at night and in the early morning, in response to exercise, allergen exposure and cold air, after taking aspirin or beta blockers
• history of atopic disorder
• family history of asthma and/or atopic disorder
• widespread wheeze heard on auscultation of the chest

Question 6

Features that lower the probability of asthma

Answer 6

• prominent dizziness, light headedness, peripheral tingling
• chronic productive cough in the absence of wheeze or breathlessness
• repeatedly normal physical examination of chest when symptomatic
• voice disturbance
• symptoms with colds only

Question 7

Special tests for asthma

Answer 7

• bronchial challenge test
• sputum eosinophils
• exhaled NO
• peak flow monitoring

Question 8

Steps for asthma treatment

Answer 8

1) inhaled short acting beta 2 agonist as required
2) add inhaled steroid
3) add on acting beta 2
4) increasing inhaled steroid
5) use daily steroid tablet

Question 9

What are the 3 cardinal questions for asthma?

Answer 9

1) have you had difficulty sleeping because of your asthma symptoms (including cough)
2) have had you your usual asthma symptoms during the day (cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness
3) has try asthma interfered with your usual activities (e.g housework, school, etc)

if yes to all three, terrible asthma