About this program

Go Over the Chief Complaint
Review His Past Medical History
Review His Current Medications
Review His Social History
Take a Family History
Do a Physical Exam
Order Laboratory Exams
Make a Diagnosis and Prescribe Medications to Treat This Patient!
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Go over the NAEP guidelines on asthma diagnosis and treatment
Review Asthma Medications
Review Spirometry and Sample Cases
Links to Other Asthma Pages

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Diagnosis and Management of Asthma

Case 4.

Joseph is a 23 year old with a long history of asthma which has worsened over the last eight months. He uses his albuterol inhaler everyday and almost every night. The only other medication he is using is low dose inhaled steroids. On physical exam the patient has diffuse expiratory wheezes.
Spirometry shows an FEV1=50% predicted value.

Question 1.

The correct diagnosis is:

  1. Severe Persistent Asthma
  2. Moderate Persistent Asthma
  3. Mild Persistent Asthma
  4. Mild Intermittent Asthma

Because the patient has asthma symptoms every day and almost every night and has an FEV1 of less than 60% of predicted value he is classified as having mild persistent asthma.

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