Asthma Features of Severity

Question 1

What symptom indicates near-fatal asthma?

Answer 1

Raised PaCO2 and/or requiring mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures

Question 2

What does PaCO2 stand for?

Answer 2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

Question 3

How is PaCO2 measured?

Answer 3

calculated by an arterial blood gases (ABG) test

Question 4

List the symptoms of which only one must be present in a patient with severe asthma to indicate life-threatening asthma?

Answer 4

Altered conscious level
Exhaustion
Arrhythmia
Hypotension
Cyanosis
Silent chest
Poor respiratory effort
PEF <33% best or predicted
SpO2 <92%
PaO2 <8 kPa
'Abnormal' PaCO2 (Normal range: 4.6-6.0kPa)

Question 5

List the symptoms of which only one must be present to indicate severe asthma?

Answer 5

PEF 33-50% best or predicted
Inability to complete sentences in one breath
Pulse:
- >110/minute in adults
- >125/minute in children >5 years
- >140/minute in children 2-5 years
Respiration:
- >25/minute in adults
- >30/minute in children > 5 years
- >40/minute in children 2-5 years

Question 6

What symptoms indicate mild/moderate asthma exacerbation?

Answer 6

Able to speak in sentences
Increasing symptoms
PEF >50-75% best or predicted
No features of acute or severe asthma
Heart rate:
- <= 140/min in children aged 2-5 years
- <= 125/min in children >5 years
Respiratory rate:
- <= 40/min in children aged 2-5 years
- <= 30/min in children > 5 years