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Study Notes

Asthma: Definition, Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Signs, and Differential Diagnosis

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible intermittent airway obstruction.
The obstruction is due to a combination of mucosal inflammation, neural hyperresponsiveness, and smooth muscle hypertrophy.
Asthma affects 10-15% of children and 10% of adults in the UK, and accounts for a large number of hospital presentations.
The immune dysregulation in asthma is driven by pollution, allergens, and viruses.
Smooth muscle surrounding the airway becomes edematous and tightens the airway, reducing the amount of air that can pass through and leading to wheeze.
The cardinal symptoms of asthma are cough (often nocturnal), wheeze (intermittent), and shortness of breath (reversible).
Asthma diagnosis is based on the history of symptoms, past medical history, medication history, and levels of asthma control.
Other causes of airway obstruction/wheeze include COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, airway tumor, goiter, foreign body, and anaphylaxis.
Other causes of cough include sinusitis and post-nasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux, bronchiectasis, and LRTI/pneumonia.
Other causes of dyspnea include pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome.
Asthma exacerbation severity can be assessed based on symptoms such as dyspnea, wheeze, and cough, and signs such as respiratory rate, pulse rate, and accessory muscle use.
Treatment for asthma focuses on limiting inflammation and relieving airway obstruction, and will be covered at a later stage.

Asthma: Definition, Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Signs, and Differential Diagnosis

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible intermittent airway obstruction.
The obstruction is due to a combination of mucosal inflammation, neural hyperresponsiveness, and smooth muscle hypertrophy.
Asthma affects 10-15% of children and 10% of adults in the UK, and accounts for a large number of hospital presentations.
The immune dysregulation in asthma is driven by pollution, allergens, and viruses.
Smooth muscle surrounding the airway becomes edematous and tightens the airway, reducing the amount of air that can pass through and leading to wheeze.
The cardinal symptoms of asthma are cough (often nocturnal), wheeze (intermittent), and shortness of breath (reversible).
Asthma diagnosis is based on the history of symptoms, past medical history, medication history, and levels of asthma control.
Other causes of airway obstruction/wheeze include COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, airway tumor, goiter, foreign body, and anaphylaxis.
Other causes of cough include sinusitis and post-nasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux, bronchiectasis, and LRTI/pneumonia.
Other causes of dyspnea include pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome.
Asthma exacerbation severity can be assessed based on symptoms such as dyspnea, wheeze, and cough, and signs such as respiratory rate, pulse rate, and accessory muscle use.
Treatment for asthma focuses on limiting inflammation and relieving airway obstruction, and will be covered at a later stage.

Asthma: Definition, Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Signs, and Differential Diagnosis

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible intermittent airway obstruction.
The obstruction is due to a combination of mucosal inflammation, neural hyperresponsiveness, and smooth muscle hypertrophy.
Asthma affects 10-15% of children and 10% of adults in the UK, and accounts for a large number of hospital presentations.
The immune dysregulation in asthma is driven by pollution, allergens, and viruses.
Smooth muscle surrounding the airway becomes edematous and tightens the airway, reducing the amount of air that can pass through and leading to wheeze.
The cardinal symptoms of asthma are cough (often nocturnal), wheeze (intermittent), and shortness of breath (reversible).
Asthma diagnosis is based on the history of symptoms, past medical history, medication history, and levels of asthma control.
Other causes of airway obstruction/wheeze include COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, airway tumor, goiter, foreign body, and anaphylaxis.
Other causes of cough include sinusitis and post-nasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux, bronchiectasis, and LRTI/pneumonia.
Other causes of dyspnea include pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome.
Asthma exacerbation severity can be assessed based on symptoms such as dyspnea, wheeze, and cough, and signs such as respiratory rate, pulse rate, and accessory muscle use.
Treatment for asthma focuses on limiting inflammation and relieving airway obstruction, and will be covered at a later stage.