Bronchial asthma

1. 2018

5. Clinical Presentation
• Asthma may manifest with different syndromes,
often overlapping

15. In the presence of hyperinflated lungs, high pitched
wheezes may be heard more easily over the trachea
than over the lung.
Tracheal auscultation has therefore been advocated
as part of the routine clinical assessment in asthma.

50. • CXR Only necessary in severe asthma to
exclude other conditions (e.g., pneumonia,
Pneumothorax , pneumomediastinum, foreign
body).

54. Allergic bronchopulmonary
aspergillosis
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
occurs as a result of a hypersensitivity reaction to
germinating fungal spores in the airway wall.
The condition may complicate the course of
asthma(1–2%) and cystic fibrosis(5–10%), and is
a recognized cause of pulmonary eosinophilia.
Genetic susceptibility is important.

57. • Management
ABPA is generally considered an indication for regular
therapy with low-dose oral corticosteroids
(prednisolone 7.5–10 mg daily), with the aim of
suppressing the immunopathological responses and
preventing progressive tissue damage.
In some patients, itraconazole (400 mg/day) facilitates a
reduction in oral steroids, and a 4-month trial is usually
recommended to assess its efficacy.
Exacerbations, particularly when associated with new
chest X-ray changes, should be treated promptly with
prednisolone 40–60 mg daily and physiotherapy.
If persistent lobar collapse occurs, bronchoscopy (usually
under general anesthetic) should be performed to
remove impacted mucus and ensure prompt re-
inflation.