Week 14: Asthma

Question 1

What is asthma? (3)

Answer 1

Recurrent episodes
Reversible airway inflammation
Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to external stimuli.

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of asthma? (5)

Answer 2

Dry cough (nocturnal)
Wheezing
Breathlessness
Chest Tightness
Variable

Question 3

What are the causes of asthma? (8)

Answer 3

Genetics
House dust mites
Animal allergens
Pollen
Viral infections
Occupational agents
Drugs
Passive/current smoking

Question 4

What diagnostic parameters is asthma based on?

Answer 4

Characteristic pattern of symptoms
Signs and results of tests

Question 5

What are the diagnostic features of asthma? (6)

Answer 5

Episodic symptoms: (Hx of acute attacks of viral-induced wheezing or allergen induced symptoms)
Intermittent symptoms following external stimuli
Drugs induced symptoms.