Asthma Flashcards
1
Q
What is asthma?
A
- episodic wheeze and/or cough
- where asthma is likely
- and other rarer conditions have been excluded
2
Q
What are features of asthma?
A
- panting
- chronic
- wheeze, cough, SOB at rest
- multiple triggers
- URTI, exercise, allergen, cold weather, etc
- variable, reversible
- responds to asthma treatment
3
Q
What is the epidemiology of asthma?
A
- 1 million UK school children
- 5% UK children on inhaled steroids
4
Q
What is the aetiology of asthma?
A
- infant onset
- childhood onset
- adulthood onset
- excertional asthma
- occupational asthma
- genes
- inherently abnormal lungs
- early onset atrophy
- later exposure (rhinovirus, exercise, smoking)
5
Q
When are symptoms unlikely or likely to be asthma?
A
- < 18 months- most likely infection
- > 5 yrs- most likely asthma
6
Q
What are different classes of asthma medication?
A
- short acting beta agonists
- inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
- long acting beta agonists
- leukotiene receptor antagonists
- thyophyllines
- oral steroids
