to be presented during lecture hour

1. ALLIANZE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Prepared by Clarinda Clare Linus
DMS003/11 – January 2011 intake
Lecturer : Dr. Angelo M. Nino Santos (Immunology)

2.  Asthma is a chronic lung disease that
inflames and narrows the airways.
 People who suffer from this chronic condition
(long-lasting or recurrent) are said to be
asthmatic.

4.  People who have asthma have inflamed airways.
This makes them swollen and very sensitive.
They tend to react strongly to certain inhaled
substances.
 When the airways react, the muscles around them
tighten. This narrows the airways, causing less
air to flow into the lungs. The swelling also can
worsen, making the airways even narrower.
 Cells in the airways might make more mucus
than usual. Mucus is a sticky, thick liquid that
can further narrow the airways.

6.  Type I hypersensitivity is also known as immediate
or anaphylactic hypersensitivity.
 The reaction may involve skin (urticaria and
eczema), eyes (conjunctivitis), nasopharynx
(rhinorrhea, rhinitis), bronchopulmonary tissues
(asthma) and gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis).
 The reaction may cause a range of symptoms from
minor inconvenience to death. The reaction usually
takes 15 - 30 minutes from the time of exposure to
the antigen, although sometimes it may have a
delayed onset (10 - 12 hours).

11.  An inherited tendency to develop allergies, called
atopy
 Inherited by parents who have asthma
 Certain respiratory infections during childhood
 Contact with some airborne allergens or
exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in
early childhood when the immune system is
developing

12.  Certain asthma triggers can set off the cascade of
asthma symptoms. Some asthma triggers may
include:
 Air pollution
 Allergies
 Cold air
 A cold or flu virus
 Sinusitis
 Smoke
 Fragrances
 aspirin

14.  Coughing from asthma often is worse at night or
early in the morning, making it hard to sleep.
 Wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky
sound that occurs when you breathe.
 Chest tightness. This may feel like something is
squeezing or sitting on your chest.
 Shortness of breath. Some people who have
asthma say they can't catch their breath or they
feel out of breath. You may feel like you can't get
air out of your lungs.

16.  Mild-to-moderate hypoxemia is a common
arterial blood gas (ABG) finding.
 Hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis may be
present due to the increased respiratory rate
of an acute asthma exacerbation
 prolonged or severe symptoms may results in
hypercapnea and metabolic acidosis.

18.  Findings can include hyperinflation of the lungs
with flattened diaphragm if there is significant air
trapping, supporting the diagnosis of asthma.

19.  In patients who have associated chest pain or
a history of CHF, an ECG may be helpful to
evaluate for other potential causes of the
patient's difficulty breathing or wheezing.

20.  Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) performed at
the bedside are the most useful objective test
to aid in the treatment and disposition of a
patient with an acute exacerbation of asthma.
 These tests confirm that the patient's
symptoms are due to obstructive lung
disease, assess the severity of the
exacerbation, and monitor the response to
treatment.

23.  β2-Adrenergic Agonists
 Anticholinergic agents
 Corticosteroids
 Epinephrine
 Magnesium sulfate
 Antibiotics
 Theophylline
 Heliox
 Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation
 Intubation

25.  Avoiding or minimizing contact with the
substance you are allergic to can help prevent an
asthma attack.
 Avoid Smoke
Smoke and asthma are a bad mix. Minimize
exposure to all sources of smoke, including
tobacco, incense, candles, fires, and fireworks.
 Avoid Colds
Avoid close contact with people who have a cold
or the flu since your asthma symptoms may
worsen if you catch the infection from them

26.  Asthma medicines can be taken in pill
form, but most are taken using a device
called an inhaler. An inhaler allows the
medicine to go directly to your lungs.

28.  http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asth
ma-prevention
 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-
topics/topics/asthma/treatment.html