Understanding Asthma in Children

Running head: CASE STUDY OF ASTHMA
Case study of Asthma
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author’s note

1CASE STUDY OF ASTHMA
Table of Contents
Risk factors:...............................................................................................................................2
Aetiology:...................................................................................................................................2
Pathophysiology:........................................................................................................................3
Clinical manifestations:..............................................................................................................3
Diagnostic test:...........................................................................................................................3
Treatment:..................................................................................................................................3
References:.................................................................................................................................5

2CASE STUDY OF ASTHMA
Dion, a 6 year-old boy, presents to the emergency department with worsening
shortness of breath alongside a high pitched audible wheeze, and is unable to speak. Since the
start of winter Dion has experienced sleeplessness and an ongoing dry cough at night,
although the cough occasionally appears with chest tightness after vigorous exercise. Besides
a peanut allergy and some bouts of hay fever in spring, Dion has an unremarkable medical
history. Dion’s older brother, was diagnosed with asthma five years ago when the family
moved to Australia, but it has rarely been problematic since their father stopped smoking
around the family.
After subsequent diagnostic testing, Dion is diagnosed with asthma. Asthma can be
considered as a very common yet complex and heterogeneous respiratory distress caused in
children triggered by atopic sensitization. In case of this case study the patient, Dion has had
no specific medical condition is the past and has developed asthma recently. This assignment
will evaluate the risk factors, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic
tests and treatment options applicable to the situation.
Risk factors:
There are various risk factors associated with this situation; first and foremost the
patient has had past history of pea nut allergic reactions with and hay fever, which are known
predecessors of asthma in children. Having a blood relative with asthma can also increase the
chances of asthma significantly, and his brother has had asthma in the past, hence the chances
of Dion having a genetic predisposition with asthma are high. Lastly passive smokers are also
at high risk of being prone respiratory distresses like asthma; hence Dion’s father being a
former heavy smoker is another huge risk factor for Dion (Freishtat and Hoffman 2015).