Clinical features and investigations of asthma is explained in very simple wording and style. Easy to remember and present due to interesting pictures. Helpful for medical students, patients with asthma and knowledge seekers.

1. Dr. Maria Sheraz Khan
BSC,MBBS

2. Types Of Asthma
 Episodic asthma
 Chronic asthma
 Severe acute asthma
 Occupational asthma
 Exercise induced asthma
 And many other types

3. Episodic Asthma
 Patient has no respiratory symptoms between episodes
of asthma.
 Attack of wheeze and dyspnea may occur at any time
and it is of sudden onset.
 Duration of attack varies from few minutes to several
days.

4. Occupational asthma:
it is the
type of asthma that is
precipitated during
work hours due to the
presence of an irritant
at the work place.

9. COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
 CBC: shows Eosinophilia

10. MEASUREMENT OF ALLERGIC
STATUS
 The presence of atopy is indicated by skin prick test
 Similar information may be provided by the
measurement of total and allergen-specific IgE
 A peripheral blood picture may show eosinophilia.

11. Chest X-RAY

12. SPUTUM DIFFERENTIAL
EOSINOPHIL COUNT
 Sputum differential eosinophil count is grater than
2% and charcot – Leyden crystals are also present.

13. SPIROMETERY
FEV1/FVC ratio is low,(less then 80%)
there is resistance in
the lung that is characteristic of obstruction.
In this instance, it is difficult for the patient
to get the air out of the lungs. It takes a long
time to reach the maximal exhalation
volume. example is ASTHMA.

14. SPIROMETERY
 Reversibility Test:
Spirometery is performed
before and then after 15 minutes of
administration of bronchodilator
(salbutamol) if there is 12% increase in FEV1
then it is diagnostic of asthma

17. TYPE 1 RESPIRATORY FALIURE:
the blood gases are disturbed PaCo2 is low
while PaO2 is normal or low .
TYPE 2 RESPIRATORY FALIURE:
PaCO2 is in upper normal
range or higher with low PO2 it is a grave sign and
indicates a very severe attack.

18. PEAK FLOW METER
 Readings are taken early in the morning and before
retiring in the evening
 A diurnal variation of more than 20% is considered
diagnostic.
 The magnitude of variability provides some indication
of disease severity.
 A trail of corticosteroid may be useful in establishing
the diagnosis by demonstrating an improvement in
FEV1 or PEF.

21. METHACOLINE TEST
 This test is use to assist the diagnosis of asthma.
 The pt. breath in nebulize methacoline which result
in bronco-constriction or narrowing of air way the
degree of narrowing can be quantified by Spirometery.

22. DETECTION OF OCCUPATIONAL
ALLERGENS
In this experiment the patient records his/her peak
expiratory flow rate after every 2-3hours and
record it in a chart this include the working hours
as well as at the weekends . After the week the
measurement are compared in respect with
working and non-workings hours and similarly
deduced as asthma cause by any occupational
hazard.

26. CARE

27. SUPPORT

28. AND PROPER TREATMENT