Session 5 - Asthma Flashcards Preview

Semester 3 - Respiratory > Session 5 - Asthma > Flashcards

Flashcards in Session 5 - Asthma Deck (24)
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1
Q

Describe the epidemiology of asthma

A
  • Increasing in prevalence
  • More common in the developed world
  • Increases in populations who move from developing to developed countries
2
Q

How many adults currently receive tratment for asthma?

A

• 5.4 million

3
Q

What are the potential causes of asthma?

A
• Genetic risk
• Sensitisation to airborne allergens 
	○ House dust mite
	○ Pollens
	○ Air pollution 
	○ Tobacco smoke
• Hygiene hypothesis
4
Q

hat is the definition of asthma?

A
• One or more of the following recurring symptoms
	○ Wheeze
	○ Cough
	○ Breathlessness
	○ Chest tightness
	○ Variable airflow obstruction
5
Q

What is a wheeze?

A
  • High pitched expiratory sound
  • Originates in airways compressed or obstructed
  • Wheeze is of variable intensity and tone
6
Q

Outline the type of cough one may develop in asthma

A
  • Cough that’s worse at night
  • Cough which is exercise induced
  • Dry cough
7
Q

What are the three parts of the examination of a suspected asthma patient?

A
  • Inspection
  • Percussion
  • Auscultation
8
Q

What do you look for in the inspection of an asthma patient?

A
• Chest 
	○ Scars/deformities
	○ Hyper expansion
• General health
	○ Eczema, hay fever
	○ Lethargu
	○ Can they speak?
9
Q

What are you looking for in percussion of an asthma patient?

A

• Hyper-resonance

10
Q

What are you looking for in auscultation of an asthma patient?

A

• Polyphonic wheeze

11
Q

Give three tests used in the investigation of an asthma patient?

A
  • Spirometry - Flow volume loop
  • Allergy testing
  • Chest x-rays
12
Q

What will you see in the spirometry of an asthmatic?

A
  • Low PERF?
  • Low FEV/FVC ratio
  • > 12% increase in FEV1 following salbutamol
13
Q

What will you see in the allergy testing of an asthmatic?

A
  • Skin prick to aero allergens

* Blood IgF levels to specific aero-allergens

14
Q

What will you see in Chest X ray of asthmatic?

A

• Peformed to exclude other disease/inhalation of foreign body/pneumothorax

15
Q

Outline the pathophiologyical changes underlying asthma

A
  • Increased mast cells
  • Increased eosinophils
  • Increased dendritic cells
16
Q

What role do mast cells play in asthma?

A

• Release prostaglandins/histamine

17
Q

What role do eosionphils play is asthma?

A

Large numbers in bronchial wall of asthmatics

18
Q

What role do dendritic cells and lymphocytes have in asthna?

A
  • Dedritic cells have a role in the initial uptake and presentation of allergens to lymphocytes
  • T-Helper lymphocytes (CD4) release cytokines that play a key part in the activation of mast cells
  • Th2 phenotype favour the production of antibody production by B lymphocytes to IgE.
19
Q

What occurs in remodelling in asthma?

A

• Epithelium
○ Stressed and damaged with a loss of ciliated columnar cells
• Basement membrane
○ Deposition of collagens, causing it to thicken
• Smooth Muscle
○ Hyperplasia causing thickening of the muscle

20
Q

Give three causes of asthmatic attacks?

A
  • Lack of treatment adherence
  • Respiratory virus infections associated with common cold
  • Exposure to allergens or triggering drug
21
Q

What are three treatments for asthma?

A
  • Education
  • Primary prevention
  • Pharmacological management
22
Q

What does education do for asthma patients?

A

• Educates people to correctly recognise their symptoms
○ To use services appropriately
○ To develop own personal asthma action plan

23
Q

What is primary prevention of asthma?

A
  • Stop smoking
  • Get fresh air
  • Reduce exposure to allergens
  • Lose weight
24
Q

What is involved in the pharmacological management of asthma?

A

• B2 adrenoagonists
○ Muscarinic antagonists
• Anti inflammatory agents