Atopic Child Flashcards
Atopic Triangle
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Eczema
- Asthma
What is Atopy?
- IgE mediated response
- Genetic and environmental factors
Asthma Epidemiology
- Puerto Ricans have highest incidence
- African Americans have highest death rate
Asthma PE
- Diaphoresis
- Anxiety
- Breathlessness
- Loss of breath sounds
- cyanosis
- Respiratory/cardiac collapse
Asthma: Dx
- Spirometry: before and after bronchodilation
- Peak flow (PEFR)
- Chest X-ray (hyperinflation, increased markings, translucent lung fields)
- Sputum cultures
- ABG
- Bronchoprovocation (methacholine, histamine, cold air, or exercise challenge)
- Eosinophils
- IgE levels
- Skin testing (Allergist)
- RAST testing (blood test for allergies)/Immunocap
- NO
- SpO2
- Sweat chloride test
- PPD
Forced Expiratory Volume at 1 Second (FEV1)
- The amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs in the 1st second of a forced exhalation.
FEV1 in Asthma
- NL: >80% of predicted
- Mild obstruction: 60-70% of predicted
- Moderate obstruction: 40-59% predicted
- Severe obstruction: <40% predicted
- ** An improvement of 12%+ w/rescue inhaler helps confirm the Dx
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
- The amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible
- NL adult: 3-5L
- After 20yrs the FVC decreases by 250cc per 10 years
FEV1/FVC (FEV1%
- The ratio of FEV1 to FVC
- In healthy adults: 75-80%
- In obstructive Dz, FEV1 is diminished and FVC may be NL or diminished (<80%)
- In restrictive Dz (pulmonary fibrosis), FEV1 and FVC are both reduced proportionally and the value may be NL or even increased due to decreased lung compliance
Peak Flow
- Measures Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
- Maximum speed of expiration through the bronchi
- Measures the degree of obstruction in the airways
- Green: 80% (71-100%) of personal best
- Yellow: 60% (50-70%) of personal best
- Red: <50% of personal best
Exhaled Nitric Oxide (eNO)
- Marker of eosinophilic inflammation of the airway mucosa
- Marker for change in the clinical condition of asthma
- NO is produced when airways become inflamed
- Asthma = increased eNO
RAST
- RadioAllergoSorbent Test (RAST): blood testing fro allergies
- Looks for IgE in blood
- Does NOT tell if patient will react oor how severely
Immunocap
- Specific type of RAST
- Different in that it allows measurement of exactly how much IgE is present to a specific food or allergen
- More exact than RAST
- May be used in addition to skin prick test (SPT)
- Cannot tell severeity of reaction
Challenge Testing
- Methacholine
- Histamine
- Cold air
- Exercise challenge
- These cause bronchoconstriction
Use spirometry to measure lung function with challenge
Contraiindications to Challenge Test
- Moderate-to-severe airway obstruction by FEV1
- Mi in last 3mo
- Uncontrolled HTN (SBP >200 or DBP >100)
- Aortic aneurysm
- pegnancy or nursing mother
- Myasthenia gravis
4 Components of Asthma Care
1) Assessing and monitoring asthma severity and control
2) education for a partnership in care
3) Control of environmental factors and co-morbid conditions
4) Meds
1) Assessing and Monitoring Asthma Severity and Control
-Must grade severity, functional limitations, and risks of asthma
Asthma Severity Levels
- Mild intermittent
- Mild persistent
- Moderate persistent
- Severe persistent
Exercise-Induced Bonchospasm (EIB)
- A Hx of cough, SOB, chest pain or tightness, wheezing, or endurance problems during exercise suggests EIB
- During exercise challenge, 15% decrease in PEF or FEV1
- SABA and leukotriene receptor antagonist can attenuate EIB
Asthma Action Plan
- Used to know when and how to take meds, adjust meds in response to asthma worsening, and tailor care to cultural and ethnic practices
3) Control of Environmental Factors and Co-morbid Conditions
- Cockroaches
- Dust-mites
- Rodents
- Animals (saliva and fur)
- Indoor plants and molds
- Smoking
Co-Morbidities of Asthma: Aspergillus
- Allergic aspergillosis (ABPA): considered in pateints who have asthma & Hx of pulmonary infiltrates, IgE sensitization to Aspergillus, and/or are steroid dependent
- Dx: +skin test; elevated IgE/IgG to Aspergillus; central bronchiecstasis
- Tx: Predisone; Azole antifungals
Co-Morbidities of Asthma: Others
- GERD
- Obesity
- Occupational exposure
- OSA
- Rhinitis/Sinusitis
- Stress and depression
- Vocal cord dysfunction
AIRESMOG Mnemonic
A: allergy and adherence to therapy I: infection/inflammation R: rhinitis/sinusitis E: exercise and error in diagnosis S: smoking and psychogenic factos M: medications (B-Blockers, ASA, ACE) O: Occupational exposure, OSA, Obesity G: GERD