Session 5 - Asthma Flashcards
Describe the epidemiology of asthma
- Increasing in prevalence
- More common in the developed world
- Increases in populations who move from developing to developed countries
How many adults currently receive tratment for asthma?
• 5.4 million
What are the potential causes of asthma?
• Genetic risk • Sensitisation to airborne allergens ○ House dust mite ○ Pollens ○ Air pollution ○ Tobacco smoke • Hygiene hypothesis
hat is the definition of asthma?
• One or more of the following recurring symptoms ○ Wheeze ○ Cough ○ Breathlessness ○ Chest tightness ○ Variable airflow obstruction
What is a wheeze?
- High pitched expiratory sound
- Originates in airways compressed or obstructed
- Wheeze is of variable intensity and tone
Outline the type of cough one may develop in asthma
- Cough that’s worse at night
- Cough which is exercise induced
- Dry cough
What are the three parts of the examination of a suspected asthma patient?
- Inspection
- Percussion
- Auscultation
What do you look for in the inspection of an asthma patient?
• Chest ○ Scars/deformities ○ Hyper expansion • General health ○ Eczema, hay fever ○ Lethargu ○ Can they speak?
What are you looking for in percussion of an asthma patient?
• Hyper-resonance
What are you looking for in auscultation of an asthma patient?
• Polyphonic wheeze
Give three tests used in the investigation of an asthma patient?
- Spirometry - Flow volume loop
- Allergy testing
- Chest x-rays
What will you see in the spirometry of an asthmatic?
- Low PERF?
- Low FEV/FVC ratio
- > 12% increase in FEV1 following salbutamol
What will you see in the allergy testing of an asthmatic?
- Skin prick to aero allergens
* Blood IgF levels to specific aero-allergens
What will you see in Chest X ray of asthmatic?
• Peformed to exclude other disease/inhalation of foreign body/pneumothorax
Outline the pathophiologyical changes underlying asthma
- Increased mast cells
- Increased eosinophils
- Increased dendritic cells
