Asthma Flashcards
1
Q
What is the clinical syndrome of asthma defined by?
A
- Increased responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimuli
- Resulting in reversible narrowing of airways that is relieved either spontaneously or with treatment
2
Q
What is always present with asthma?
A
- Wheeze
3
Q
What type of sensitivity results in asthma?
A
- Type 1 hypersensitivity
4
Q
What can wheeze commonly be confused with?
A
- Rattle
- Stertor
- Stridor
5
Q
What can asthma commonly be misdiagnosed for?
A
- Bronchitis
6
Q
What ways can asthma be reversed?
A
- Bronchodilators
- Corticosteroids
7
Q
How can asthma vary daily?
A
- Worse at night and in the morning
8
Q
How can asthma vary weekly?
A
- At work in week
- Better at weekends
9
Q
How can asthma vary annually?
A
- Environmental allergens
10
Q
What are the goals of treatment following a finalised asthma diagnosis?
A
- Minimalise symptoms
- Minimalise medicaton
- No exacerbations
- No limitations on physical activity
- Normal lung function
11
Q
What are the clinical symptoms of asthma?
A
- Wheeze
- Dyspnoea
- Chest tightness
- Cough (dry - usually only in paediatric asthma)
- Sputum (occasionally)
- VARIABILITY
12
Q
What are the clinical signs of asthma?
A
- Breathlessnes on exertion
- Hyperexpanded chest
- Wheezes
13
Q
What other clinical symptoms and signs would mean it wasn’t asthma?
A
- Clubbing
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Stridor
- Asymmetrical expansion
- Dull percussion notes
- Crepitations (crackles)
14
Q
What conditions would be more likely on a dull percussion note?
A
- Lobar collapse
- Pleural effusion
15
Q
What conditions would be more likely with crepitations?
A
- Bronchitis
- CF
- Alveolitis
- LVF
