BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

BY: PRINCESS GRACE

A. PECHON, SN
WHAT IS BRONCHIAL ASTHMA?

When people talk about bronchial

asthma, they are really talking
about asthma, a chronic
inflammatory disease of the airways
that causes periodic "attacks" of
coughing, wheezing, shortness of
breath, and chest tightness.
a respiratory condition marked by
spasms in the bronchi of the lungs,
causing difficulty in breathing. It
usually results from an allergic
reaction or other forms of
hypersensitivity.
DIFFERENCE OF ASTHMATIC BRONCHIOLE AND NORMAL
BRONCHIOLE
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Trouble sleeping caused by
shortness of breath, coughing or
wheezing
A whistling or wheezing sound
when exhaling (wheezing is a
common sign of asthma in
children)
Coughing or wheezing attacks
that are worsened by a
respiratory virus, such as a cold
or the flu
SIGNS OF AN ASTHMA EMERGENCY INCLUDE

Rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing

No improvement even after using a quick-relief
inhaler, such as albuterol
Shortness of breath when you are doing minimal
physical activity
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY:

The upper respiratory tract

consists of the nose, sinuses,
pharynx, larynx, trachea, and
epiglottis.
The lower respiratory tract
consist of the bronchi,
bronchioles and the lungs.
The major function of the
respiratory system is to deliver
oxygen to arterial blood and
remove carbon dioxide from
venous blood, a process
known as gas exchange.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Clinical Manifestations of Asthma
The classic symptoms of asthma are wheezing ,
cough & shortness of breath( with chest
tightness ).
Wheezing:
Wheezing is the most common finding during acute airway
obstruction, & the chest may be hyperresonant on percussion.

Cough:
The cough can be nonproductive or raise copious amounts of sputum
( particularly in the presence of infection )
Occationally , cough is the only manifestation of asthma.

Shortness of breath:
Dyspnea tends to vary greatly over time , depending on the severity of airflow
obstruction.

Chest tightness :
Most patients associate their chest tightness with the sensation of being unable
to take in a full & satisfying breath .
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF BRONCHIAL
ASTHMA

Medical care includes treatment of acute asthmatic

episodes and control of chronic symptoms, including
nocturnal and exercise-induced asthmatic symptoms.
Pharmacologic management includes the use of
control agents such as inhaled corticosteroids.
Most severely affected patients, the ultimate goal is to
prevent symptoms, minimize morbidity from acute
episodes, and prevent functional and psychological
morbidity to provide a healthy (or near healthy)
lifestyle appropriate to the age of child.