Asthma

Question 1

What is asthma

Answer 1

Reversible obstructive airway disease usually presenting with wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath

Question 2

What are the 3 characteristics of asthma

Answer 2

1. Airflow limitation: usually reversible spontaneously or with treatment
2. Airway hyper-responsiveness to a wide range of stimuli
3. Bronchial inflammation: with T lymphocytes, mast cells, eosinophils with associated plasma exudation, oedema, smooth muscle hypertrophy, matrix deposition, mucus plugging and epithelial damage

Question 3

Asthma spirometry

Answer 3

Greater that 15% improvement in FEV1 or PEFR after the bronchodilator
200ml increase FEV1