Acute Asthma

Question 1

What is Acute Asthma?

Answer 1

An asthma exacerbation or flare up. That can suddenly happen

Question 2

Chronic asthma?

Answer 2

Is an inflammatory condition of the airways. Can vary in frequency and severity

Question 3

Life threatening symptoms of Acute Athsma

Answer 3

-Rapid breathing
-Higher heart rate
- Labored breathing
- Cyanosis - blue lips or skin
-Reduced O2 saturation

Question 4

Chronic Asthma - can present in which ages?

Answer 4

-Children and adults age 12 and over
-Children between 5 and 11
- Anyone under 5

Question 5

Severity of Acute Asthma determined by what?

Answer 5

Heart rate - how much your heart beats per minute, 60-100 BPM

PEF - Peak Expiratory flow - peak flow meter reading

Respiratory rate - number of breaths per minutes - normal is 12-16 breaths per minute

SPO2 - how much oxygen is in the blood, healthy range above 95%

Question 6

1) Moderate = Treat at home

Answer 6

PEF is more than 50% and less than 75%

Treatment steps =
At home - high dose SABA (up to 10 puffs)
Spacer- non life threatening Asthma

Question 7

Severe - Treat in hospital

Answer 7

PEF 33-50%
Respiratory rate more than 25/min
Heart rate more than 110 bpm

Not able to complete a sentence in one breath

Treatment steps -
Hospital
Nebuliser - life threatening
Intravenous - If it can’t be inhaled via a spacer/nebuliser

And prednisolone/parenteral steroids

Question 8

Life- threatening - treat in hospital

Answer 8

PEF less than 33%
SpO2 - oxygen level more than 92%

Symptoms include:
Cyanosis - not enough oxygen in the blood so skin turns blue)
Exhaustion - can’t breathe
Hypotension - low blood pressure

Treatment steps -
Hospital
Nebuliser - life threatening
Intravenous if can’t be inhaled via a spacer/nebuliser
And parenteral steroids

Question 9

Treatment of acute Asthma

Answer 9

Prescribe oral prednisolone for ALL acute asthma patients to reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs

If unable to take oral prednisolone, IV hydrocortisone OR IM methyl prednisolone

Question 10

PATIENT inhaler technique

Answer 10

Patient must show correct inhaler technique before discharge to maximise medication efficacy

Question 11

ASTHMA action plan

Answer 11

Provide personalised action plan outlining medication usage,recognition of early signs of exacerbations and instructions for seeking medical help

Question 12

Follow up arrangements

Answer 12

Arrange for timely follow ups with primary care or respiratory services to reassess asthma control and adjust management as needed