Asthma Bronchiale: Diagnosis, treatment, care

1. Big picture

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with variable, usually reversible airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

In children, asthma is not just “wheezing.” The examiner wants you to think clinically:

Recurrent episodes of wheeze/cough/dyspnea
+ variable triggers
+ symptom-free or better periods
+ response to bronchodilator or inhaled corticosteroid
+ no better alternative diagnosis
= asthma likely

Asthma is common, potentially dangerous, but usually controllable. The aim is not only to stop acute attacks, but to achieve:

• no daytime symptoms or very rare symptoms;
• no night waking;
• normal activity a