A 45-year-old woman develops breathlessness and wheezing following a cold. What features would you seek to support a diagnosis of asthma?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the specific features or characteristics that would support a diagnosis of asthma in a patient who has developed breathlessness and wheezing following a cold. This involves understanding the clinical indicators and diagnostic criteria for asthma.
Answer
Look for symptoms like persistent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and confirm with spirometry showing reversible airway obstruction.
Key features to support an asthma diagnosis include persistent cough, especially at night, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Diagnosis can be further supported by lung function tests like spirometry showing reversible airway obstruction, and a history of symptoms triggered by cold, exercise, or allergens.
Answer for screen readers
Key features to support an asthma diagnosis include persistent cough, especially at night, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Diagnosis can be further supported by lung function tests like spirometry showing reversible airway obstruction, and a history of symptoms triggered by cold, exercise, or allergens.
More Information
Asthma symptoms can vary greatly between individuals and may also include an increased frequency of symptoms when exposed to specific triggers, such as respiratory infections, exercise, or allergens. A history of allergic conditions can also be indicative.
Tips
A common mistake is overlooking the variability in asthma symptoms and not confirming with spirometry, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Sources
- Asthma in Adults | AAFA.org - aafa.org
- Adult-Onset Asthma - WebMD - webmd.com
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