Clinical features of Asthma

Question 1

What is asthma?

Answer 1

• Wheezing
• Chronic
• Variable/reversible
• Responds to treatment

Question 2

Epidemiology?

Answer 2

• genes
• abnormal lungs
• early onset atopy
• Later exposures (exercise, smoking, rhinovirus)

Question 3

How to diagnose?

Answer 3

1-No asthma test
-spirometry limited test
-Allergy test irrelevant
2-Wheeze
-bronchoconstriction
-Thickening of alveolar wall
-Mucus released into lumen
3-Shortness of breath
-less than 30% of lung function
4-Cough
-nocturnal 
-dry
-exertional
5-Many triggers
6- Responds to treatment
7-Atopy

Question 4

When is it not asthma?

Answer 4

-Isolated cough
could be bronchitis-chest free wheeze, noisy breathing
bronchial bronchitis- 4 weeks, gets better over years
pertussis- coughing fits, vomiting, changing colour