Asthma Flashcards
(40 cards)
What is asthma always associated with?
A wheeze
Why does a wheeze occur with asthma?
Bronchoconstriction, airwall thickening and luminal secretions.
How can you tell that the airway obstruction is asthma and not something else?
it should be a variable obstruction, that responds to treatment.
How does paediatric asthma differ to adult asthma?
what gender its common differs (boys/women)
Doesn’t tend to be occupation linked
Can be more severe in children
How common is asthma?
Very - 1,000,000 in UK
100,000 in scotland.
Is the prevalence of paediatric asthma increasing or decreasing?
increasing
Asthma is caused by ‘multiple hits’. Name some of these hits.
Infant onset, childhood onset, adult onset, excertional, occupational, genes, abnormal lungs, later exposure to rhinovirus, exercise and smoking.
How can asthma be considered so inconsistent?
varies in severity, symptoms, onset ages, triggers.
Why is childhood asthma so difficult to diagnose?
patient may not be wheezing at the time,
cannot use stethoscope,
spirometry insignificant (varying results in all children without asthma),
Rattle/stridor mistaken for wheeze. (55% is not really asthma)
What is an isolated cough more likely to be?
bronchitis (wet cough), habitual cough
Is there a lower age limit on asthma?
No - but under 18 months its more likely an infection.
How do you treat asthma?
Inhaled corticosteroids
salbutamol
Whats atopy? (doesnt cause asthma - but is linked)
tendency to be ‘hyper allergic’
Why may a child’s wheeze be wise than an adults wheeze?
They have smaller airways anyway
whats the difference between asthma and viral induced wheeze?
Completely different conditions but may present the same symptoms and should both be treated.
What could be misdiagnosed as a wheeze?
Rattle, steror
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
loose, rattly cough, noisy breathing, post tussive vomiting (vomiting caused by cough)
NO WHEEZE
what are the symptoms of pertussis?
Whooping cough Coughing fits Vomiting Colour change Petechiae (wee purple spots)
What is the definition of asthma?
Increased responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimulus - more likely in the presence of an irritant. Widespread narrowing that changes in severity either spontaneously or as the result of therapy. Varying symptoms
Inflammation mediated by the immune system
What are some things that can trigger asthma?
Exercise, cold air, smoke, food, emotion, menstruation.
Are hospital rates of adult asthma increasing or decreasing?
Increasing
name some risk factors for asthma. Including some that are not proven.
genetic - atopy
occupation
smoking
(maybe - diet, obesity, less exposure to microbes, indoor pollution)
what other disorders are linked with asthma, secondary to the same process of hyper allergic IgE response?
Eczema, food allergy
How much more influential is maternal atopy than paternal atopy?
3x more influential .
