Question

Respiratory Therapy

Asthma Case Study

Initial History:

15 yo girl complaining of chest tightness and dyspnea

Mowing lawn when symptoms develop

Prodrome of rhinorrhea and tearing along with chest symptoms

Felt no better after going outside

Now one hour later

Additional information:

Hx of asthma since childhood, mother and brother have asthma

Allergic to grass, ragweed and cats

Productive cough clear phlegm

Uses a “blue” inhaler for past six months, BID

No other hx

Physical examination:

Alert, anxious, T=37, P=105, RR=30, BP=115/68, skin flushed and pink, diaphoretic, prolonged expository wheezes throughout all lung fields.

Lab results:

ABG (RA) pH 7.55, CO2 30, O2 65O2

Peak flow = 200 (less than 50% predicted)

WBC 5500

Repeat lab: (1 hour later)

ABG pH 7.35, CO2 43, O2 45 (40% VM) unable to perform peak flow

What do you think is happening?

What steps can you take to prevent future attacks.

Answer 1

15 yo girl complaining of chest tightness and dyspnea when she is Mowing lawn the symptoms developed.

Prodrome of rhinorrhea and tearing along with chest symptoms

She is allergic to grass, ragweed, and cats.

Answer - She may be exposed to grass during mowing lawn that's why the symptoms developed.

According to her lab report and examination.

She was dyspneic, hyperventilation and bronchospasm

Due to bronchospasm, wheezing was there and due to hyperventilation her blood pH was increased and Carbon dioxide washout was there (pH - 7.55, CO2 30)

But after one hour She was all right

b. Avoid allergens is the only way to avoid future attacks.