5. Types of Asthma
• Extrinsic Asthma
▫ Related to environmental exposures
▫ Inc. conc of IgE antibodies
• Intrinsic Asthma
▫ No IgE antibodies
▫ Often in the first 2 years of life
6. Pathophysiology
• Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation
and bronchospasm
• Pathologic components’
▫ Bronchospasm
▫ Mucus production
▫ Edema
▫ Infiltration of inflammatory cells
▫ Desquamation of epithelial and inflammatory cells
8. Pathophysiology
• Allergens bind to mast cell associated IgE
• Release of mediators
• Result in bronchoconstriction, edema and
immune responses
• Early phase reaction results in
bronchoconstriction
• Late phase reaction results in eosinophilic and
neutrophilic infiltration
9. Risk factors
• Poverty
• Small Home / Large family
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Intense allergenic exposure in infancy
• Poor compliance to therapy
10. Clinical presentation
• History
▫ Cough
▫ Shortness of breath
▫ Exercise intolerance
▫ Night time symptoms
▫ Agitation
▫ Lethargy
▫ Inability to speak
▫ Decreased appetite
▫ Tripod sitting position
▫ Diaphoresis
11. Examination
• WHEEZING
• Central cyanosis
• Tachypnea
• Tachycardia
• Pulsus paradoxus
• Flaring of nostrils, use of accessory muscle of
respiration and intercostal recessions
• Barrel shaped chest
• Harrison sulci
12. • In severe asthmatic attack (respiratory failure)
▫ Wheezing may disappear
▫ Bradycardia
▫ No pulsus paradoxus
22. Management – Acute attack
• Oxygen (2-3 L/min)
• Adequate hydration
• Nebulized salbutamol (with O2)
▫ Stop salbutamol if HR > 180
• Terbutaline (SC inj)
• Aminophyline (IV)
▫ To be given if already on theophyline
▫ If unable to tolerate B2 agonists
• Hydrocortisone (IV)
• Epinephrine (SC inj)
• Antibiotics
• Ventilatory support
23. Status asthmaticus
• Continuous respiratory distress despite
administration of sympathomimetic drugs with
or without theophyline
• Management
▫ Admit in ICU
▫ Investigations done immediately
▫ Same management as acute except
Steroids given initially
Ipratropium can also be used
24. Management – Chronic asthma
• Four main components
▫ Assessment and monitoring
▫ Patient education
▫ Avoidance of triggers
▫ Pharmacologic therapy
25. Patient education
• Improving patient skills in use of inhaler
• Use of peak flow monitoring
• Information about medications
• When and how to respond to changes
29. Pharmacologic therapy
• Beta 2 agonits (Short and long acting)
• Theophyline
• Ipratropium (used along with Beta 2 agonists)
• Cromolyn and nedocromil
• Leukotriene antagonists
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Oral corticosteroids (short courses)
30. Prognosis
• Good prognosis with early aggressive treatment
• 50 % of asthmatic children are free of symptoms
by 10-20 years
• 5 % experience severe disease
• In severe asthma (chronic steroid dependant
disease + hospitalizations) 95% become
asthmatic adults
31. Prevention
• Reduce the risk of developing allergies
• Breast feeding
▫ Reduces wheezing
▫ Protection lasts for up to 6 years
• Avoidance of triggers