Asthma Diagnosis - How?

southoftheriver

Wow there is a lot of confusion about the definition.

Oldernotwiser has already clarified it, but I and my classmates at medical school were taught that asthma is characterised by reversible airway responsiveness. Not because it is curable (although many children with atopic features do grow out of asthma) but because in-between attacks their airways are essentially normal and respond to bronchodilators such as salbutamol (Ventolin). You do not have to have a wheeze to be asthmatic, that is a mistake many people make. I had horrible hacking night coughs when I was a child (google early morning dips) but because I had no wheeze I was never diagnosed. Had the doctor seen me at 4 am it would have been obvious.

Chest x-rays are not useful in the management of asthma either, as they are largely normal. Chest x-rays of those with COPD may show changes consistent with their disease.

Those who belittle asthma are fortunate never to have been affected by it. A family friend died at the age of 28 and he lived 100 yards from Kings College Hospital in London.

Oldernotwiser

Gingernutty wrote: »

Just for laughs - it's World COPD Day on Wednesday!

And hasn't there been a lot of publicity and fundraising around the fact!

Oldernotwiser

Person_one wrote: »

Your wording was less than clear.

Asthma is a chronic condition, in itself it isn't reversible. The inflammation and symptoms associated with asthma can be reversed with bronchodilators so they aren't constant, but you can't 'cure' asthma.

I think we're on the same page now!

Glad you've caught up!;)

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Glad you've caught up!;)

Is the sarcasm necessary? Your first post said 'asthma is reversible'.