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CAUNTONGAN, NORHATA P.
Medicine Clerk
Definition
• Chronic inflammatory disease of airways
characterized by increased responsiveness of the
tracheobronchial tree to multiple stimuli.
audible respiration,
cough Less typical s/sx of asthma:
1. intermittent episodes of non-
prominent wheezing,
wheezing
prolonged expiration; often
productive cough; or
2. exertional dyspnea
w/ tachypnea, tachycardia, Normal breath sounds
mild systolic HPN
May wheeze after forced exhalation
May show ventilatory impairments
rapidly overinflated lungs, when tested
inc. anteroposterior diameter
DIAGNOSIS
Correlation of:
Clinical History (increasing accuracy w/ >1 sx)
Cough that worsens at night
Wheeze
Difficulty breathing
Chest tightness
Clinical Findings
Presence of wheeze at normal breathing or its
appearance after prolonged forced expiratory time of
≥6 secs.
Objective Measurements of airflow obstruction
and/or bronchial responsiveness
FEV1, PEFR, bronchoprovocation w/ methacholine or
Asthma diagnosis confirmed by objective measures of
variable airway obstruction
Using Spirometry
results in As Severe
Classification of Chronic Severity
Persistent
Asthma