Asthma Part 2: Medical advice

Asthma Part 2: Medical advice

In this part of the series we will discuss the diagnostic methods available.

Asthma is diagnosed in primary care through a comprehensive medical history, family history, physical examination, and pulmonary function tests.

Your GP will determine the severity of your asthma, which will affect the treatment you need.

Referral to a respiratory specialist in the following situations:

• Subspecialized testing is required to confirm the diagnosis of asthma

• There is a story of a life-threatening asthma attack

• Treatment for certain allergies

• Polypharmacy (multiple medications) is needed to control your asthma

Important points to mention during your medical consultation

Important points to address during your medical consultation include:

• A family history of asthma and allergies

• Frequency of asthma attacks

• Timing of asthma attacks, especially if they only occur at certain times of the year, on the day, or in certain places.

• Asthma triggers specific to you

• Related conditions to an asthma attack, such as concurrent upper respiratory tract infection, reflux disease, stress, sleep apnea, etc.

Physical examination

The physical examination would include:

• Auscultation by your primary care physician to check for shortness of breath in the lungs

• Examination of the upper respiratory tract, sinuses, and upper nasal passages for existing upper respiratory tract disease

• Check for other signs of allergic conditions, e.g. B. Eczema

Diagnostic tests for asthma

Pulmonary function tests

Pulmonary spirometry is a type of lung function test that measures the amount of air you breathe in and out and the rate at which it breathes.

Some respiratory specialists use medications to “treat” existing asthma and repeat lung function tests to see if there is improvement. This usually happens when chronic asthma is suspected. This also happens when the diagnosis of asthma is unclear.

Associated tests for asthma

Other tests performed by respiratory specialists may include:

• Allergy testing

• Perform bronchoprovocation tests to induce a controlled asthma attack.

• Chest x-rays

• Electrocardiograms (ECGs).

Asthma in young children

Many children develop asthmatic symptoms before the age of 5, and it is difficult to diagnose asthma in young children because the symptoms often occur along with many other childhood illnesses.

The reason for this is that children initially have small airways. For example, respiratory diseases with mucus production will further narrow the airways, making wheezing audible and mimicking asthma. As the child grows older, the airways enlarge and wheezing no longer becomes audible.

However, asthma should be suspected if:

• One or both parents have asthma

• Other allergic conditions, e.g. Eczema, for example, is present

• There is a history of pollen allergies or hay fever

• Wheezing can be heard even if the child is healthy

In the following article, we will look at the challenges faced by special populations such as young children, pregnant women and the elderly, etc.

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