Respiratory Diseases Flashcards
ASTHMATIC PATIENT PROFILE
- Possibly a smoker but not necessarily
- Young < 35 years old
- Dry cough
- Variable breathlessness
- Night-time waking with breathlessness and/or wheeze - common
- Significant diurnal or day-to-day variability of symptoms - common
COPD PATIENT PROFILE
Smoker or ex-smoker 35+ years old Chronic Productive cough Persistent and progressive breathlessness Wheeze uncommon Symptoms constant
COPD characterised by:
COPD characterised by airflow obstruction, which is typically:
- Progressive
- Not fully reversible
- Does not change markedly over several months
Asthma =
= Chronic Inflammatory disorder of the airways.
In susceptible individuals, inflammatory symptoms usually associated with:
- Widespread but variable airflow obstruction
- Increase in airway response to a variety of stimuli
Obstruction is often reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment
Asthma characterised by:
Asthma = a chronic condition characterised by
- Chronic inflammation of the bronchi with oedema and increased mucus secretion
- Bronchial hyper-responsiveness leading to sudden, but reversible luminal narrowing and airway obstruction during an asthma attack.
Asthma symptoms:
- *Wheeze
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Chest tightness
Symptoms are:
- Variable
- Intermittent
- Worse at night
- Provoked by triggers including exercise.
NB: Wheeze = cardinal sign of asthma Typically: o Diffuse o Polyphonic o Bilateral o Particularly expiratory
Asthma triggers:
o Exercise
o Viral infections
o Iatrogenic - NSAIDs, Beta-blockers
o Occupational - common 9-15% of adult onset asthma.
Many triggers recognised - Isocyanates (paints), flour & grain dust, animals, colophony (pine resin) & fluxes (for soldering), latex, aldehydes & wood dust.
-> Affects:
Painters, chemical workers, bakers, forestry workers, electricians, welders, nurses, cleaners…
o Environmental - Dust, Pollens, Animal fur or feathers, Smoke e.g. tobacco…
Differential Diagnoses for some Asthma symptoms:
- Infections
- Pulmonary thrombo-embolic disease - Pulmonary embolus
- Restrictive lung disease
Asthma Drugs:
'Relievers' = Bronchodilators: - B2-agonist drugs - Anti-muscarinic drugs - Theophylline
'Controllers/Preventers' = Anti-inflammatory - Corticosteroids - Leukotriene-receptor agonists - Theophylline - Cromoglycates
Inhaled drugs 3 Methods of delivery:
- Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) / MDI + spacer
- Dry powder devices
- Nebuliser
Types of Metered Dose Inhaler
Blue = Short-acting B2-agonist
Brown or Orange = Corticosteroid
Green = Long-acting B2-agonist or Iptratropium
Purple = Seretide (combination preparation)
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Recessive pattern of inheritance - mutant alleles commonly carried in the population
Disease manifestations and severity depend on the underlying genetic mutation, but may include:
- Lung disease - COPD
- Liver disease - Cirrhosis
COPD Symptoms
COPD should be considered in pts >35 years old who have a risk factor (generally smoking); and who present with:
- Exertional breathlessness
- Chronic cough
- Regular sputum production
- Frequent winter bronchitis
- Wheeze
Pts with COPD may also experience
- Ankle oedema
- Cachexia (weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness)
- Depression and anxiety
Airflow obstruction should be confirmed by spirometry
Mild: FEV1 50-80%
Moderate: FEV1 30-49%
Severe: FEV1 <30%
COPD Management Aims
- Limit complications (secondary prevention)
- Remove factors driving disease progression - stop smoking
- Should be offered - pneumococcal vaccination & annual influenza vaccination - Control symptoms - no cure
COPD Drugs
Inhaled Bronchodilators:
**Anti-cholinergic bronchodilators (e.g. Atrovent) = first line drugs
(= Anti-muscarinic bronchodilator)
Combination Bronchodilators
- Combivent (MDI or nebuliser) - Ipratropium & salbutamol
- Duovent (nebuliser) - Ipratropium & fenoterol