Asthma Case Studies Free-Samples for Students -Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.Describe the Probable reasons for Geronimos acute Exacerbation of Asthma. 2.Based on the history Provided by Geronimo and his mother, determine which classification of asthma Geronimos asthma fits. 3.Explain the results of his Spirometry test. An Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) testing is recommend by a Junior doctor for Geronimo, do you agree with this suggestion? 4.Describe the different forms of Asthma Medication and when each should be used. Answers: 1.Geronimo is a 12 year boy with a disorder called asthma in the age of 6. In order to enter into the topic it is extremely important to know what the disease is like. It is actually a chronic lung disease that results in inflammation as well as narrowing of the airways. This can in turn lead to a number of symptoms like exacerbation, an episode, an attack and also a flare up. The boy in this case study has faced an exacerbation of asthma. In case of an acute exacerbation, airways get swollen up. The bronchioles tubes also get narrow because the muscles contract. This results in difficulty in breathing of the individual. The mother said that he developed issues in breathing during his soccer hours giving us the implications that he might have the symptoms of exercise induced asthma. This types of asthma mainly takes place due to aerobic workout resulting in feeling like chest tightness and coughing. Moreover Geronimos mother also said that he had developed upper respiratory tract infections. Researchers suggest that just like asthma, sinusitis also causes inflammation in the mucous membranes of the sinuses resulting in secretion of mucus. Therefore when sinuses get inflamed similar symptoms take place like asthma leading to sinusitis with asthma (Heneberger et al., 2014). Cold, flu and other infections especially the viral and bacterial ones cause asthma by triggering the occurrence of asthma resulting in more narrowing of the airways due to airway sensitivity. Other trigger for the occurrence of the disease is the changes in weather which accompanied the thunderstorms (Kanchongkittiphon et al., 2015). Researchers have proved that cold air, changes in temperature as well as humidity cause asthma. Moreover, thunderstorms might have accompanied dust mites which may also be a reason. 2.After severe exacerbation of asthma, Geronimo was admitted to the hospitals under serious condition. In such a scenario it is extremely important for the healthcare professionals to understand in which category the intensity of the asthma is present in the patient. There are four stages of asthma called the intermittent asthma, Mild persistent asthma, Moderate persistent asthma And Severe persistent asthma. When the boy was admitted he had respiratory rate which was very high about 26 beats per minute and he also had a audible wheeze. Moreover his FEV was found to have risen to FEV of 1.64L that is about 55% of the predicted normal value. After the nurse had conducted proper treatment it was found that his respiratory rate decreased to 21breaths per minute but his condition was tachycardiac. He faced a FEV of 2.2 L which was 74% of the predicted value. From this one can easily come to conclusion that after the exacerbation of asthma and was brought under control, he exhibited symptoms that nearly matched with the symptoms of moderate persistent asthma (Depner et al., 2014). This is said because from the case study it was clearly noted that he takes medication everyday which is important for this type of short acting asthma. Moreover this type of asthma interferes with daily activities which are evident in the case of the patients developing symptoms during playing of soccer. Nighttimes occurrences have no documentation in this case. The most important factor that helps one to confirm is the lung function tests which are usually abnormal and stays within 60% to 80% of the normal expected value (Panico et al., 2014). In case of the patient, it was 74% which is between the range and therefore the patient falls into the category of moderate persistent asthma patient. 3.Spirometry test was conducted in order to assess and measure the lung function. This mainly helps to understand the volume as well as the flow of air that is mainly inhaled by the patient as well as exhaled. They are of extremely important for understanding the breathing patterns like to know whether asthma, cystic fibroses and others are present or not. The case study that is provided dies not contain the results of the parameters like forced vital capability but had mentioned the measurement of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second. The later is actually the volume of air which an individual can forcibly blow out in one second after a period of full inspiration. They mainly remain within the values of 80% and 120% (Schiffano, Hollenbachn Cloutier, 2014). In case of the patient, when the healthcare professional conducted the spirometry test it was seen that initially his FEV1 was 55% of the predicted value. After proper intervention was done, it was seen that the spirometry test had a FEV1 value of 74% which although not normal but showed improvement from the time when he was admitted. Conducting an arterial blood gas test is not harmful for the patient but will be in turn benefitting. It measures acidity in blood and shows how well the lungs of the patient is working and are being able to remove oxygen into blood and carbon dioxide from blood. It can be conducted in cases of asthma as well as in COPD or cystic fibrosis (Mousavi et al., 2014). This basically helps to see how the lungs are functioning and whether extra oxygen is required to help the patient in breathing and find out right amount of oxygen is entering the lungs or not. 4.The different types of medications that are used depend on the age, symptom, medication side effects as well as severity of the asthma. For long term asthma control medications in order to control chronic symptom and prevent any kinds of asthma attacks Leukotriene modifiers, Inhaled corticosteroids, Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), Combination inhalers that contain both a corticosteroid and a LABA and Theophylline is used (Fajt Wenzel, 2015). Medications for allery induced asthma mainly include Omalizumab (Xolair), Allergy shots (immunotherapy) in order to reduce bodys sensitivity to that allergen. Medications for quick relief in asthma mainly include rescue medications like oral and intravenous corticosteroids for serious asthma attacks (Feno, 2015). They also include short acting beta agonists like albuterol and also ipratropium. They provide short term relief and prevent asthma attacks. References: Depner, M., Fuchs, O., Genuneit, J., Karvonen, A. M., Hyvrinen, A., Kaulek, V., ... Kabesch, M. (2014). Clinical and epidemiologic phenotypes of childhood asthma.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,189(2), 129-138. Fajt, M. L., Wenzel, S. E. (2015). Asthma phenotypes and the use of biologic medications in asthma and allergic disease: the next steps toward personalized care.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,135(2), 299-310. FENO, B. (2015). Asthma phenotypes and the use of biologic medications in asthma and allergic disease: The next steps toward personalized care.J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL, 311. Henneberger, P., Liang, X., Lillienberg, L., Dahlman-Hglund, A., Torn, K., Andersson, E. (2014). Association of asthma exacerbation with objective and subjective assessments of occupational exposure.European Respiratory Journal,44(Suppl 58), 411. Kanchongkittiphon, W., Mendell, M. J., Gaffin, J. M., Wang, G., Phipatanakul, W. (2015). Indoor environmental exposures and exacerbation of asthma: an update to the 2000 review by the Institute of Medicine.Environmental health perspectives,123(1), 6. Mousavi, S. A. J., Fereshtehnejad, S. M., Khalili, N., Naghavi, M., Yahyazadeh, H. (2014). Arterial blood gas and spirometry parameters affect the length of stay in hospitalized asthmatic patients.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran,28, 4. Panico, L., Stuart, B., Bartley, M., Kelly, Y. (2014). Asthma trajectories in early childhood: identifying modifiable factors.PLoS One,9(11), e111922. Schifano, E. D., Hollenbach, J. P., Cloutier, M. M. (2014). Mismatch between asthma symptoms and spirometry: implications for managing asthma in children.The Journal of pediatrics,165(5), 997-1002.