Asthma Management Adults 2 Flashcards
What are the 3 types of oral therapy available
Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist
Theophylline
Prednisolone – main drug used
What are the side effects or theophylline
Anxiousness
Headache
Hangover feeling Tachycardica
How does prednisolone make you feel
High
Gives you munchies
What can the abrupt cessation of oral steroids being taken for over 3 weeks cause
Acute adrenal insufficiency
What is acute adrenal insufficiency
Failure of adrenal glands to produce endogenous glucocorticoid which can be fatal
What can the continuous use of steroids cause
Obesity
Thin skin
Thin bone
Makes them more prone to pick up infection
What type of specialist options are there
Omalizumab (Anti- IgE)
Mepolizumab (Anti-Interleukin-5)
Bronchial thermoplasty
What 5 things should be checked if a patient presents with acute asthma
Can they complete a sentence? Can they talk? Are they tripoding? Hunching forward Coughing? Wheezing?
What are the 4 things to remember with acute asthma attacks
Patient specific
Known trigger/ history in keeping
Avoid delays
Guidelines
What are the different severities of acute asthma
Mild, moderate, severe and life-threatening
What treatment is given for asthma in hospital
Nebuliser with salbutamol
What are the features of severe asthma
PEF 33-50% best or predicted
Respiratory hate over or equal to 25/min
Heart rate over or equal to 110/min
Inability to complete sentences in one breath
What are the features of life-threatening asthma
Altered conscious level Exhaustion Arrhythmia Hypotension Cyanosis (sign they are about to arrest) Silent chest PEF below 33% best or predicted SpO2 below 92% PaO2 below 8kPa Normal PaCO2 (4.6-6.0 kPa)
How is mild/moderate asthma treated
Increase inhaler use
Oral Steroid
What should be treated in mild/moderate asthma
Trigger
