What is the differential diagnosis of asthma?

What are the differential diagnoses of asthma? The differential diagnoses of asthma include: Bronchiectasis — clinical features include copious sputum, frequent chest infections, a history of childhood pneumonia, and coarse lung crepitations. For more information, see the CKS topic on Bronchiectasis.

Is asthma exacerbation a differential diagnosis?

The differential diagnosis of acute asthma includes COPD, VCD, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, epiglottitis, foreign body, extra-or intra-thoracic tracheal obstruction, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, chemical pneumonitis, and hyperventilation syndrome [10].

What condition mimics asthma?

Asthma mimickers can be extrathoracic or intrathoracic. Other more common mimickers of asthma include pulmonary eosinophilic disorders, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, CF and CHF.

What are modifiable and non modifiable risk factors for asthma?

There are both non-modifiable risk factors for asthma, like family history and age, and modifiable ones, like smoking and obesity. Some risk factors, like air pollution, are modifiable but may not be easy to change.

What is an example of a differential diagnosis?

For example, many infections cause fever, headaches, and fatigue. Many mental health disorders cause sadness, anxiety, and sleep problems. A differential diagnosis looks at the possible disorders that could be causing your symptoms.

What tests are used to diagnose asthma?

Spirometry. This is the main test doctors generally use to diagnose asthma in people 5 years or older. To help determine how well your lungs are working (pulmonary function), you take a deep breath and forcefully breathe out (exhale) into a tube connected to a spirometer.

How is asthma exacerbation diagnosed?

How’s an acute exacerbation of asthma diagnosed?

1. Peak flow test. A peak flow test measures how fast you can exhale.
2. Spirometry. Your doctor may also use a spirometer.
3. Nitric oxide test. This test involves breathing into a mouthpiece that measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath.
4. Blood oxygen level tests.

Can CF be mistaken for asthma?

Cystic fibrosis is another chronic lung disease. Its symptoms may mimic asthma symptoms. Sometimes it occurs alongside asthma.

Can anxiety mimic asthma?

When panic sets in, breathing changes becoming uncontrolled rapid and shallow which cause more problems. Anxiety can also mimic asthma and create the problem of vocal cord dysfunction that can be mistaken for asthma. Sometimes it gets treated as asthma but it is not.

What are 3 non-modifiable risk factors?

Non-modifiable risk factors include:

• Age.
• Gender.
• Family history.
• Ethnicity.

What are the modifiable risk factors for asthma?

In the United States, a significant proportion of childhood asthma may be attributable to modifiable risk factors including acute viral respiratory infections, antibiotic use, birth by cesarean section, obesity, second hand smoke exposure, and allergen sensitization.

What is your differential diagnosis?

A differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions or diseases that could be causing your symptoms. It’s based off of the facts obtained from your symptoms, medical history, basic laboratory results, and a physical examination.

What are the different types of differential diagnoses of dyspnea?

Dyspnea is a common symptom and, in most cases, can be effectively managed in the office by the family physician. The differential diagnosis is composed of four general categories: cardiac, pulmonary, mixed cardiac or pulmonary, and noncardiac or nonpulmonary.

Why is it difficult to diagnose dyspnea?

The diagnosis can be more difficult to establish when more than one underlying disease is present simultaneously. The causes of dyspnea include cardiac and pulmonary disease (congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome; pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and many other conditions (anemia, mental disorders).

What is the first step in the evaluation of dyspnea?

The first step in the evaluation of patients with suspected chronic dyspnea is to establish the primary organ system involved: pulmonary, cardiac, both, or neither. Studies 11 have shown the diagnosis of dyspnea to be multifactorial in approximately one third of patients.

How is vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) diagnosed in asthma?

Patients with chronic symptoms suggestive of asthma, normal spirometry, poor response to asthma medications, and frequent evaluations should be evaluated for vocal cord dysfunction. [ 46] Usually, the diagnosis can be made using direct laryngoscopy, but only during symptomatic periods or after exercise.