Bronchial syndrome Flashcards
Acute bronchitis
- nonproductive or midly productive cough
Bronchial syndrome
Permanent = COPD Transient = asthma attack
Asthma
- airflow obstruction
- bronchial hyperresponsiveness
- underlying inflammation
Asthma involves
- Bronchoconstriction
- Airway edema + inflammation
- Airway hyperreactivity
- Airway remodeling
Bronchoconstriction
- dominant physiological event
- bronchial smooth muscle contraction - occurs quickly + narrows the airways in response to exposure to stimuli
- stimulus -> IgE mediated activation of mast cells -> released mediatiors ( histamiine , tryptase , leukotrienes , prostagladins ) -> bronchoconstriction
Airway inflamation / mucus hypersecretion
- narrows the airways
- cell migration / activation -> inflammatory infiltration epithelia -> release of mediators - > epithelial edema
- increase in number of GOBLET CELLS ; increase of mucus production
Airway remodelation
- diminishing the response to drugs + increasing hyperresponsiveness
1. thickening of the sub- basement membrane
2. subepithelial fibrosis
3. airway smooth muscle hypertrophy + hyperplasia
4. blood vessel proliferation + dilation
5. mucous gland hyperplasia + hypersecretion
Hyperresponsiveness
= An exaggerated bronchoconstrictor response to a wide variety of stimuli that do not necessarily determine clinical expressed bronchoconstriction to
a healthy person
- Major but not unique response of asthma
- MECHANISMS : inflammation , dysfunctional neuroregulation , structural changes
- Not equivalent to asthma ; normally present in the covalesence of the viral respiratory infection
Pathogenesis of asthma
- Multifactorial ; depends on interactions of multiple susceptibility genes + environmental factors
- Host : innate imbalance of immune response ; cytokines response profile - determining capability of smooth muscle activation + fibroblast production
- Environment : allergens + respiratory infections
- onset :childhood ( earlier in boys ; girls after puberty)
Diagnosis of asthma
the clinicial should determine :
- Episodic symptoms : of airflow obstruction or airway hyperresponsiveness are present
- Airflow obstruction : at least partially reversible
- Alternative diagnosis are exluded
Methods of diagnosis
- Medical history
- Physical exam on upper respiratory tract , chest , skin
- Spirometry : to demonstrate obstruction + assess reversibility , including in childern 5 y or older .
Reversibility is determined by an increase in FEV1 of >= 12 of a short acting bronchodilator
Triggers of asthma
- Environmental + occupational allergens ( numerous ) = pollens
- Viral infections
- Exercise , rapid changes in environmental temperature
- Inhaled irritants ( perfumes , cleaning products ) tobacco smoke
- stress
- Aspirin /NSAID / β - blockers
Domestic trigger of asthma
- Home - related Allergens :
> House dust - mite ( dermatophagoides sp )
> Crockroach
> Pets
Symptoms of asthma attack
- Dyspnea + wheezing
- Cough
- Chest tightness
Dyspnea ( asthma )
- Starts : brupt
- During nighttime ( 4 am - vagal predominance ) / temporal relationship to the exposure to trigger
- EXPIRATORY
> classic : bradipnea
> wheezing , predominanlty during expiration
Cough
- Dry at the beginning , becomes productive
Sputum : PEARL appearance - mucus , clear , adherent
MICROSCOPIC EXAM : - Curshman spirals
- Charcot Leyden crystals