Pathophysiology of Acute Severe Asthma: Concept Map and Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of acute asthma, detailing its aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment. The aetiology section highlights common triggers and allergens, including respiratory viruses and environmental factors. The pathogenesis explains t...Read More

Poster on acute
asthma

ACUTE ASTHMA PATHOGENESIS
Aetiology:
• Each patient has individual triggers and
allergens
• Most common are respiratory viruses such
as Rhinovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV), Human Metapneumovirus (HMV),
Influenza
• Exacerbations are caused by environmental
allergens or triggers such as pollen, dust,
occupation allergens
• In certain cases animal waste and fur
exposure can also cause exacerbation
attack (Zuo, Ni & Chuang, 2016)
Risk factor:
• Exposure to allergen triggers
• Smoking
• Viral infection
• Environmental allergen exposure
• Poor indoor air quality
• History of acute asthma
• Non-adherence to medical management
Pathogenesis:
Exposure to allergen activation of the
Tcells production of eosinophils
mucous production and formation of
plugs chronic inflammation of the
airways brionchoconscrictiona and
spasms Acute asthma attack
Clinical features:
• Severe wheezing when expiring and
inspiring.
• Coughing consistently.
• Extremely rapid breathing.
• Chest tightness or pressure.
• Tightness in the neck and chest
muscles, called retractions.
• Difficulty in talking.
• Extreme anxiety or panic.
• Pale, sweaty face (Baraldo, Turato,
Cosio & Saetta, 2016).
Diagnosis:
• For acute conditions
by lung function
tests, Pulse
oxymetry and
arterial blood gas
tests
• For nonacute
conditions by chest
x-ray and pulse
oxymetry tests
Treatment:
• Pharmacological interventions
such as bronchodilators such as β2
antagonist/Salbutamol, anti-
inflammatory drugs such as
corticosteroids, and
anticholinergics such as
Ipratropium bromide
• Non-pharmacological intervention
such as external oxygen via Hudson
mask (Page, O’Shaughnessy &
Barnes, 2016)
Prognosis:
• 11 million Australians are infected
• 455 deaths caused per annum
• With proper management and precautions
can be medically managed
Prevention/precaution:
• Decreasing exposure of allergens
• Cessation of smoking
• Vaccination against viral infections
• Regular usage of medicines and inhalers
(Baraldo, Turato, Cosio & Saetta, 2016).
•

References:
• Baraldo, S., Turato, G., Cosio, M. G., & Saetta, M. (2016). Which CD8+
T-cells in asthma? Attacking or defending?.
• Page, C., O’Shaughnessy, B., & Barnes, P. (2016). Pathogenesis of
COPD and asthma. In Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Asthma and
COPD (pp. 1-21). Springer, Cham. Doi: 10.1007/164_2016_61
• Zuo, L., Ni, L., & Chuang, C. C. (2016). Allergic Asthma Pathogenesis
and Antioxidant Therapy. Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research–Anti
Allergy Agents, 2, 45. retrieved from
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