- Title
- Clinical assessment of asthma
- Creator
- Gibson, Peter Gerard
- Relation
- Clinical Asthma p. 119-126
- Relation
- http://shop.elsevier.com.au/ISBN/9780323042895/Clinical-Asthma
- Publisher
- Mosby Elsevier
- Resource Type
- book chapter
- Date
- 2008
- Description
- Asthma is a multicomponent illness that is chronic and subject to periodic exacerbations. Airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness are key pathophysiological components of asthma that lead to variable airflow obstruction; an increased sensitivity of the airways to environmental triggers; and episodic symptoms of wheeze, cough, and dyspnea. This chapter deals with the clinical assessment of asthma and complements other sections that address the assessment of the pathophysiologic components such as airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. Clinical assessment should be regular and planned, as this forms the basis of clinical care, including successful pharmacotherapy. Regular clinical assessment is necessary to identify the appropriateness of therapy and the person's response to treatment. Each clinic visit should include an assessment of asthma control, together with an assessment of asthma self-management skills and the use and appropriateness of treatment. When asthma is uncontrolled or problems develop, additional assessment of relevant triggers and specific problems is required. This chapter describes the assessment of the person with asthma during a routine clinic visit, and then moves on to clinical assessment in special situations such as an asthma exacerbation, rhinitis, upper airway disorders, dysfunctional breathing, and pregnancy.
- Subject
- asthma; exacerbations; clinical assessment; inflammation; hyperresponsiveness; action plan
- Identifier
- uon:6787
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/805072
- Identifier
- ISBN:9780323042895
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