Status Asthmaticus – A Brittle State of Asthma

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Overview

What is status asthmaticus?

Status Asthmaticus (acute severe asthma) is a severe asthmatic attack that lasts long and results in severe pain. This type of asthma can’t be treated with normal medicament’s and common treatments. It has similar symptoms like asthma but inhalers won’t work for it. Potential respiratory failure is the main cause of this disease. Status Asthmaticus is a critical situation and without prompt and immediate treatment it can be a life-threatening condition. So, it is very important to confirm the diagnosis as early as possible while paying attention to the details of every element. Status Asthmaticus, which is a severe form of asthma, can only be managed by a specialized doctor (pulmonologist).[1][7]

 

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of status asthmaticus and what are the signs of a severe asthma attack?

An acute severe asthma attack can cause symptoms such as:

1. Dyspnea or shortness of breath
2. Difficulty breathing when lying down (breathlessness and shortness of breath when lying down), you feel that breathing is easy only when sitting or standing while bending forward.
3. Stiff neck and strained abdominal muscles
4. Hunched shoulders.
5. Not able to communicate and concentrate
6. Agitation, you may feel agitated, stirred up, tense, or confused
7. Cyanosis of the lips (blue lips, bluish lips, or cyanotic lips), bluish discoloration of the lips and mouth (central cyanosis) occurs due to poor oxygen circulation in the blood.
8. You feel that your chest is closed
9. Feeling breathless especially when sleeping
10. Not able to speak a full sentence
11. Tightness in Chest

If you have any of the above listed medical signs seek medical advice immediately, book an appointment or visit your doctor for an evaluation set, because you may be having a severe asthmatic attack.

Causes

What are the causes of status asthmaticus?

Status asthmaticus remains a major economic and health problem worldwide, upper respiratory infections cause about one-half of all cases of status asthmaticus, and other causes include medical nonadherence, microbial exposures related to pets and other animals, prolonged or regular exposure to cat and dog allergens (Pet Allergy) in severe atopic individuals, exposure to non-steroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to aspirin (aspirin allergy), smoke inhalation, irritant inhalation (paint, detergents, petroleum gas, etc.), extreme fatigue after exercise, and insufficient use of inhaled or oral corticosteroids.

Diagnosis

How to diagnose status asthmaticus?

The diagnostic procedure for Status Asthmaticus involves a number of laborious procedures performed to confirm the clinical case. There are various tests and consultation maneuvers conducted by healthcare experts to confirm the diagnosis. Doctors ask the patients about their condition and seek to identify and clarify the conditions that surrounded the patient before and during the asthmatic attack. Pulmonary function test is taken in this case to diagnose the disease. This test is performed to measure the function of lungs. Some tests are also conducted to check for bronchial hypersensitivity “bronchial hyperresponsiveness” towards some particles, pollen or foods, and thus to confirm whether you have an allergy or not. The level of immunoglobulin is also measured. Moreover, a blood test is also conducted to confirm the diagnosis of Status Asthmaticus.[5][6]

Treatment

What is the treatment for status asthmaticus and how to treat status asthmaticus?

After confirming the diagnosis, few steps are taken to obtain inflammation and bronchial constriction. Status Asthmaticus is managed by a drug combination of theophylline (a bronchodilator), steroids and short-acting beta-agonists such as salbutamol inhalers (Ventolin, Salamol) or albuterol sulfate inhalation solution 0.083 (One unit dose vial every 4-6 hours for quick relief of asthma symptoms).[1][8][9]

Albuterol Sulfate HFA (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA) is a short acting beta agonist used for immediate relief of asthma symptoms (1 or 2 inhalations every 4-6 hrs).[10][11][12]

Sevoflurane is an inhalational anaesthetic used to control severe asthmatic attacks in patients. Pregnant females should be treated aggressively, as this condition can be detrimental for the growing embryo. Moreover, pregnant females must wear appropriate shield during the course of treatment, to protect the embryo from prenatal radiation exposure of radiography and imaging.[2][3]

Prognosis

Status Asthmaticus is a severe chronic disease, appropriate therapy should be initiated instantly once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, you should start taking your pills and inhalers regularly. Learn more about how you can avoid stress and how to maintain a suitable distance from mold, house dust and pet dander. Moreover, smoking is a big risk factor for asthma, try to avoid it.[4]

 

References

Status Asthmaticus

Verified by: Dr.Diab (October 13, 2017)

Citation: Dr.Diab. (October 13, 2017). Status Asthmaticus Definition Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment. Medcoi Journal of Medicine, 28(2). urn:medcoi:article126.