Nursing Case Study on Acute Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Running head: NURSING CASE STUDY
Nursing case study
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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NURSING CASE STUDY
Table of Contents
Question 1:.................................................................................................................................2
Question 2:.................................................................................................................................4
Question 3:.................................................................................................................................5
References:.................................................................................................................................7

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NURSING CASE STUDY
Question 1:
Acute asthma can be defined as the obstructive disorder of the airway, a chronic
inflammatory disorder of the airways. As mentioned by Costa et al. (2018), the immuno-
histopathologic characteristics of the acute asthma can include inflammatory cell infiltration,
as indicated by the presence of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, Mast cell activation
and epithelial cell injury. In order to discuss the pathogenesis of the acute asthma, the main
contributing factor to the acute asthma is the airway inflammation which contributes to the
airway hyper-responsiveness, airflow limitation, respiratory symptoms and disease
chronicity. There are three key pathways that are associated with acute asthma exacerbation,
bronchoconstriction or spasm, airway edema, airway hypertension, and airway remodelling.
In this case, the case study selected for the assignment mentions the patient named Jackson
Smith, an 18 year old male who had been admitted to the health care facility emergency
department at 9 pm with the symptom of severe breathlessness. The patient assessment and
family enquiry revealed the fact that he had been suffering from a long time from asthma and
he had had the diagnosis of acute asthma when he had been 2 years old. It has to be
mentioned in this context that the importance of assessment of the clinical manifestations
exhibited by the patient is very important in the context so that the proper diagnosis can be
done and adequate interventions can be provided to the patient as well. It has to be mentioned
in this context that Jackson had been suffering from severe dyspnoea, 32 breaths/ minute
respiratory rate, SpO2 of 90%, pulse rate at 130 breaths per minute, and blood pressure of
150/85 mmHg. Along with that, the medical assessment in this case had also been successful
in identifying the presence of diminished breathing sounds and widespread wheeze.
Explaining the pathogenesis linked to each of the clinical manifestations that Jackson
had been suffering from, first and foremost, the presence of dyspnoea or shortness of breath
has to be discussed. It has to be mentioned that inflammation of the respiratory airways has a