QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
According to the British Thoracic Society guidelines, there are only 4 categories of asthma exacerbation severity (moderate, severe, life-threatening, and near-fatal), and ‘mild’ exacerbation is not one of them. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
10008151
b
Mild
QuestionChoice
Near-fatal asthma is usually associated with respiratory arrest and impaired consciousness, generally requiring artificial ventilation. This is not the case for the patient in this scenario. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
10008154
e
Near-fatal
QuestionChoice
Moderate asthma is characterised by a PEF of 50-75%, respiratory rate lower than 25, pulse lower than 110, and normal speech. This answer is not correct.
10008152
c
Moderate
QuestionChoice
Life-threatening asthma is characterised by a PEF value lower than 33% and oxygen saturations lower than 92%. Patients would also have a silent chest, signs of cyanosis, confusion, a low pulse, and a low heart rate. The patient in this scenario does not have these features. Therefore, this answer is not correct.
10008153
d
Life-threatening
QuestionChoice
A severe asthma exacerbation can be described as:

- PEF 33-55%
- Respiratory rate of more than or equal to 25
- Heart rate more than or equal to 110
- Inability to complete sentences in one breath

The patient in this scenario meets all of the above criteria, making this the correct answer.
10008150
a
Severe
Concept
Chapter
2693
3723
Asthma in children
Topic
132
Respiratory
14177
A 16-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by ambulance, after experiencing acute shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain during a netball match. She has a previous diagnosis of asthma.

On examination she appears visibly short of breath and is unable to complete sentences in one breath. Her pulse is mildly elevated at 110 beats per minute, and she is saturating at 95% on room air. She has a respiratory rate (RR) of 29 and a blood pressure of 144/98 mmHg. Her peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is measured at 40%.

Which of the following describe the severity of her asthma exacerbation?
a