Differential diagnoses for acute asthma Flashcards
What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
- Chronic cough
- Sometimes productive cough
- Diarrhoea
- Malabsorption
- Failure to thrive
What are the risk factors for cystic fibrosis?
- Positive family Hx
What are the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis?
- Nocturnal cough
- Dysponea
Caused by post-nasal discharge
What is chronic rhinosinusitis?
Inflammation of paranasal sinuses for >12 weeks
What is tracheomalacia?
Cartilage in trachea is so soft that the trachea partly collapses due to increased airflow
What are the symptoms of tracheomalacia?
- Expiratory stridor
- Wheezing
- Frequent airway infections
- Noisy cough
- Exercise intolerance
What are the risk factors for tracheomalacia?
- Children
What is a vascular ring?
Congenital lesion where vessels are in an abnormal location and may cause compression or obstruction of the oesophagus or airway
What are the symptoms of vascular ring?
- Wheezing
- Dyspnoea
- Occasional stridor
What is foreign body aspiration?
Inhalation of foreign body into larynx or respiratory tract
What are the symptoms of foreign body aspiration?
- Wheezing
- Dyspnoea
- Occasional stridor
- Unilateral ‘silent chest’ (no breath sounds)
What is vocal cord dysfunction?
Vocal cord approximate rather than abduct/open during inspiration causing upper airway obstruction
What are the symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction?
- Difficulty inhaling
- Episodic shortness of breath
What are the risk factors for vocal cord dysfunction?
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
- GORD
- Asthma
- Occupational / environmental exposure
What is alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
Autosomal co-dominant genetic disorder causing the enzyme responsible for neutralising neutrophil elastase and preventing inflammatory tissue damage in the lungs to become ineffective
What are the symptoms of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Productive cough
- Dyspnoea on exertion
- Wheezing
What are the risk factors for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Cigarette smoker
- Exposure to gas, fumes or dust
- 34-41 yrs
- Male gender
What is COPD?
Airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. It encompasses:
- Emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis
What is emphysema?
Alveoli are damaged and become weakened and rupture creating larger air spaces
What is chronic bronchitis?
Inflammation and irritation of bronchial tubes causing a mucus build-up
What are the symptoms of COPD?
- Morning cough that becomes constant
- Dyspnoea
Initially during exercise
Progresses to rest - Barrel chest
Hyperinflation - Wheezing
What are the risk factors for COPD?
- Smoker
- Age
- Genetics
- Exposure to air pollution / occupational exposure
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent dilation of the bronchi due to destruction of the elastic and muscular components of the bronchial wall
What are the symptoms of bronchiectasis?
- Cough
- Sputum production
- Dyspnoea
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Haemoptysis
- Rhinosinusitis
What are the risk factors for bronchiectasis?
- Cystic fibrosis
- Immunodeficiency
- Previous infection
What specific presentations indicate another cause other than asthma?
- Wheeze related to coughs and colds
- Isolated/productive cough
- Normal investigations
- No response to treatment
- Unilateral wheeze
What are other common causes of wheezing?
- COPD
- Bronchiectasis
- Bronchiolitis
- Acute bronchitis (infection of bronchi)
- Foreign body aspiration
What is bronchiolitis?
A lower respiratory tract infection affecting the bronchioles
What are the symptoms of bronchiolitis?
- Fever
- Dry and persistent cough
- Wheezing
- Difficulty feeding
What are the risk factors for bronchiolitis?
- Common in babies and young children
