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What Are The Difference Between Asthma And Air Hunger Caused By Lung Infection?
Question: Question for pulmonology-literate physician: How can one tell the difference between (a) asthma and (b) air hunger caused by lung infection?
Brief Answer:
the response to types of treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
(A)Asthma is obstuction/blockage of the airways due to REVERSIBLE narrowing and inflammation of these air passages, there is usually a previous history of asthma. It does not develop suddenly in adults.
The use of bronchodilators (medications to relax and open the airways) helps to relieve symptoms as does the use of medications to reduce the inflammation (steroids either inhaled or oral or both).
When the inhaled or nebulised medication is used, the airways re open and the symptoms are relieved
(B)Air hunger or shortness of breath due to infection is usually due to the presence of infected fluid or areas in the lung affecting air flow along with the inflammation.
Infection in the lungs can sometimes cause an asthma attack in an asthmatic (cause the airways to close in).
Infections would require a prolonged course of antibiotics
An x ray can also help to show a difference.An x ray would show definite signs of infection
I hope this helps, if anything unclear, can let me know
the response to types of treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
(A)Asthma is obstuction/blockage of the airways due to REVERSIBLE narrowing and inflammation of these air passages, there is usually a previous history of asthma. It does not develop suddenly in adults.
The use of bronchodilators (medications to relax and open the airways) helps to relieve symptoms as does the use of medications to reduce the inflammation (steroids either inhaled or oral or both).
When the inhaled or nebulised medication is used, the airways re open and the symptoms are relieved
(B)Air hunger or shortness of breath due to infection is usually due to the presence of infected fluid or areas in the lung affecting air flow along with the inflammation.
Infection in the lungs can sometimes cause an asthma attack in an asthmatic (cause the airways to close in).
Infections would require a prolonged course of antibiotics
An x ray can also help to show a difference.An x ray would show definite signs of infection
I hope this helps, if anything unclear, can let me know
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you kindly Dr. James!
If a lung x-ray did not show signs of bacterial or other pathogenic infection in the lungs, and if antihistamines helped resolve asthmatic breathing problems, would it be reasonable to surmise the asthma could be due to allergies?
At what point can asthma cause irreversible problems like airway remodeling?
If a lung x-ray did not show signs of bacterial or other pathogenic infection in the lungs, and if antihistamines helped resolve asthmatic breathing problems, would it be reasonable to surmise the asthma could be due to allergies?
At what point can asthma cause irreversible problems like airway remodeling?
Brief Answer:
if have persistent or frequent attacks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Allergies can cause asthma attacks so controlling them would help to reduce the acute asthma flare ups
Persistently uncontrolled asthma can cause remodeling. This means that asthmatics who have repeated frequent asthma attacks may have remodeling occurring.
Uncontrolled asthma presents with repeated episodes of night time or early morning coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing
If anything else unclear, feel free to ask
if have persistent or frequent attacks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Allergies can cause asthma attacks so controlling them would help to reduce the acute asthma flare ups
Persistently uncontrolled asthma can cause remodeling. This means that asthmatics who have repeated frequent asthma attacks may have remodeling occurring.
Uncontrolled asthma presents with repeated episodes of night time or early morning coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing
If anything else unclear, feel free to ask
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for insights Dr. James!
What would you consider repeated, frequent asthma attacks? Just looking for a rule of thumb - once a day w/o exertion, several times per week w/ or w/o exertion, etc.
Regards and respects from CA, USA to Barbados.
What would you consider repeated, frequent asthma attacks? Just looking for a rule of thumb - once a day w/o exertion, several times per week w/ or w/o exertion, etc.
Regards and respects from CA, USA to Barbados.
Brief Answer:
different classification systems
Detailed Answer:
HI
There are different guidelines and classifications of asthma. One set of guidelines classifies it as (1)intermittent (2) mild persistent (3) moderate persistent (4)severe
Moderate persistent refers to a person who has symptoms of cough, wheeze, chest tightness and shortness of breath daily. Flare ups affect activity levels and there are night time symptoms more than 5 times a month
There are also associated lung function and peak flow readings
Severe : continual daily symptoms with frequent night time symptoms
If you are having daily asthma attacks then you would be either a moderate or severe and you may need to consider seeing either your doctor or a pulmonologist for assessment of your medication and control
Mild persistent : symptoms 3 to 6 times a week, night time symptom 3 to 4 times a month
different classification systems
Detailed Answer:
HI
There are different guidelines and classifications of asthma. One set of guidelines classifies it as (1)intermittent (2) mild persistent (3) moderate persistent (4)severe
Moderate persistent refers to a person who has symptoms of cough, wheeze, chest tightness and shortness of breath daily. Flare ups affect activity levels and there are night time symptoms more than 5 times a month
There are also associated lung function and peak flow readings
Severe : continual daily symptoms with frequent night time symptoms
If you are having daily asthma attacks then you would be either a moderate or severe and you may need to consider seeing either your doctor or a pulmonologist for assessment of your medication and control
Mild persistent : symptoms 3 to 6 times a week, night time symptom 3 to 4 times a month
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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