Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Respiratory Block: Asthma > Asthma (Etiology, Epidemiology, Pathology and Risk Factors) > Flashcards

Asthma (Etiology, Epidemiology, Pathology and Risk Factors) Flashcards

1
Q

What is asthma?

A

Asthma, whatever the severity, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways mediated by mast cells, eosinophils and T-lymphocytes
- inflammation underpins the whole entity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does airway inflammation contribute to?

A
  • airway hyper-responsiveness (bronchoconstriction)
  • airflow limitation
  • respiratory symptoms (cough, wheezing etc.)
  • disease chronicity (if inflammation not addressed)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the inflammation cause?

A

Recurrent wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough, particularly at night, and is associated with widespread but variable obstruction that is at least partly reversible.

  • the inflammation causes airway hyper-responsiveness
  • fixed airway obstruction may occur (NB! due to scar formation occurring in the airways)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 3 key words in asthma?

A
  1. Inflammation
  2. Airway hyper-responsiveness
  3. Airway remodeling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is another term for airway hyper-responsiveness?

A

Airway hyper-reactivity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is airway remodeling?

A

Describes what happens as a consequence of chronic asthma

- hypertrophy and hyperplasia of smooth muscle and subepithelial fibers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is asthma often described as?

A

A chronic eosinophilic bronchitis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Pathology of asthma:

A

Changes include muscosal oedema, mucus hypersecretion, smooth muscle hypertrophy, loss of airway epithelium and infiltration of inflammatory cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Asthma aetiology

A

Asthma occurs in a given individual as a result of a combination of genetic predisposition and exposure to appropriate environmental stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are “inducers”?

A

e.g. allergens or occupational agents
- cause airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-reactivity and symptoms of asthma
= disease is brought on

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are “trigger factors”?

A

e.g. exercise or irritants result in exacerbations of asthma

= disease is already there, something makes it worse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which antibodies are involved in asthma?

A

IgE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Who is likely to get asthma?

A

A number of factors determine the likelihood of developing asthma

  • following exposure to an irritant in the air a normal immune and defense response occurs; in people with asthma the response may become exaggerated
  • airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity
    i. e. airways would over-react to things that would just be minor irritants in people without asthma
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the two types of asthma conventionally described?

A
  1. Extrinsic (atopic)

2. Intrinsic (non-atopic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is extrinsic (atopic) asthma?

A
  • hereditary predisposition to generate IgE in response to commonly encountered allergens in environment
  • asthma usually begins in childhood
  • may be history of eczema
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is intrinsic (non-atopic) asthma?

A
  • causal agent not identified
  • less frequent childhood
  • rarely family history
  • no hayfever, eczema or other allergic manifestations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a risk factor for asthma?

A

Risk factor relates to an entity that increases the likelihood of getting a disease or a condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Significance of risk factors in asthma:

A
  • asthma may develop with or without various risk factors

- greater number of risk factors > potential likelihood for developing asthma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why is family history relevant in asthma?

A

genetic predisposition has been demonstrated

20
Q

Which genes have been linked to asthma?

A

Recently 2 asthma genes have been identified:

  1. ADAM 33
  2. PH 11
21
Q

Which chromosomes are linked to asthma?

A

5, 11, 12

22
Q

Which infections are risk factors for asthma?

A

Upper respiratory tract infections:

  • mainly viral
  • RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
23
Q

What are some allergens that are risk factors for asthma?

A

Pollen, house dust mites, cockroaches, pets

24
Q

What are some air pollutants that are risk factors for asthma?

A

particulates (PM10), ozone, nitrogen oxides, SO2

25
Q

When is exercise a more common risk factor for asthma?

A

In children

- particularly in cold air

26
Q

Which gender is at more risk of asthma?

A

Initially males > females

Later females > males

27
Q

Which food and drinks may be risk factors for asthma?

A

Dairy products, alcohol, peanuts, various fruit juices

28
Q

Which additives are risk factors for asthma?

A

Metabisulphate, tartrazine, monosodium glutamate

29
Q

What are some work related risk factors for asthma?

A

Irritants and specific sensitizers

30
Q

What are hormonal risk factors of asthma?

A

Premenstrual exacerbations, pregnancy

31
Q

Regarding birth, what are some risk factors of asthma?

A

Low birth weight / pre-term delivery:

  • birthweight <2.5kg or <37 weeks gestation
  • small (or excessively “floppy”) airways
32
Q

Which medical conditions are risk factors for asthma?

A
  • rhinitis / sinusitis (“united airway”)
  • obesity
  • gastroesophageal reflux
33
Q

Which drugs may be risk factors for asthma?

A

aspirin, NSAIDs, beta-blockers (including eye droppers), & as part of an anaphylactic response to other drugs

34
Q

What are 2 other important risk factors for asthma?

A
  • emotional stress

- smoking

35
Q

What is occupational asthma?

A

Asthma caused by specific sensitizing agents inhaled in the workplace
= increasingly important

36
Q

What is important in the consultation of a patient with suspected occupational asthma?

A

A detailed history:

  • work-related symptoms
  • typically improves at weekends & on holiday
  • compensation
37
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Isocyanates

A

Paint sprayers

38
Q 
Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant? 
Animal proteins (e.g. excreta)
A

Laboratory workers

39
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Reactive dyes

A

Manufacturing

40
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Fungi

A

Brewers

41
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Platinum salts

A

Platinum miners

42
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Acid anhydrides

A

Manufacturing

43
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Drugs and enzymes

A

Pharmaceutical workers

44
Q 
Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant? 
Plicatic wood (Western Red Cedar)
A

Forestry workers

45
Q 
Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant? 
Pinewood resin (colophony)
A

Joiners

46
Q

Occupational asthma: which occupation is associated with the following precipitant?
Shellfish proteins

A

Seafood workers

47
Q

What can be done to prevent asthma?

A
  • avoid provoking factors where possible in predisposed individuals
  • education of caregivers and patients

Respiratory Block: Asthma (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions