Acute Exacerbation Of Bronchial Asthma Definition

Learn how to recognize the symptoms as well as potential triggers and risk factors.

Acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma definition. Respiratory viruses especially rhinovirus cause the majority of asthma exacerbations in both children and adults. Acute asthma exacerbation is often caused by a particular trigger. Pulse rate respiratory rate subjective assessment of respiratory distress accessory muscle use and auscultation of the lung fields are key factors to assess during physical exam. An acute asthma exacerbation in adults presents as an acute or subacute episode of progressive worsening of asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath wheezing cough and chest tightness.

Acute severe asthma also known as status asthmaticus is an acute exacerbation of asthma that does not respond to standard treatments of bronchodilators inhalers and corticosteroids.