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Acute Asthma |
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Signs and symptoms: The patient commonly complains of a tight chest and shortness of breath. They appear breathless, with widespread expiratory wheezing and may be using accessory muscles of respiration to aid breathing. If the patient is unable to talk this is potentially fatal.
¨ The patient should normally use his or her normal bronchodilator (salbutamol, fenoterol or ipratropium bromide). This should be administered in the form of a nebulizer using 24% oxygen and nebulized salbutamol. ¨ Give oxygen ¨ Corticosteroids—IV hydrocortisone 200mg or oral Prednisolone ¨ Aminophylline 250mg IV slowly over 15 minutes
This combination of salbutamol, steroids and oxygen will often completely resolve attack. Individuals who fail to respond to this should be urgently referred to the Respiratory firm. Patients who are only partially responsive must have underlying irritants such as a chest infection either excluded or treated.
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Acute asthma may be induced in a patient predisposed to brochospasm by exposure to an allergen, infection, cold, exercise or anxiety. |
