Status asthmaticus is a severe asthma attack that doesn’t respond to usual treatments, causing inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Emergency treatment involves administering bronchodilators and steroids, and a specialist can prescribe medication to manage symptoms and prevent future attacks. Most people recover fully and are given advice on avoiding triggers.
Status asthmatic is an acute life-threatening asthma attack that is not relieved by inhalers or other common treatment measures. The airways become inflamed and narrowed to the point where breathing becomes very difficult and an individual can potentially lose consciousness if the condition is not addressed immediately. Once admitted to the emergency room, the patient is usually given intravenous oxygen and medications to reopen the airways. After immediate treatment, a specialist can prescribe medications to manage symptoms and inform the patient of ways to prevent future attacks.
Asthma is a very common condition in adults and children. Allergens, cold air, or strenuous exercise irritate the airways and trigger an immune system response that leads to inflammation and tightness. Most people with asthma find relief from acute attacks by using bronchodilators, inhaled or oral medications that relieve inflammation and allow the airways to expand. In the case of asthmatic status, however, the airways do not respond to bronchodilators. Swelling and tightness tend to get worse over minutes to hours.
A person suffering from status asthmaticus is likely to experience intense chest tightness, shortness of breath, anxiety and confusion. Coughing or wheezing may occur initially, and as the condition worsens, the lips and skin may turn blue. Without treatment, lack of oxygen in the lungs and blood can cause dizziness, loss of motor skills, and loss of consciousness. A person suffering from status asthmaticus should be evaluated in the emergency room as soon as possible to prevent fatal complications.
In the emergency room, doctors can give oxygen and fluids to keep the patient stable. A doctor usually does an arterial blood gas analysis to evaluate the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. During blood gas analysis, a syringe is used to draw a blood sample from an artery, which is then analyzed by laboratory experts. A doctor may also conduct a chest X-ray to look for signs of pneumonia, blockages, and other conditions that can complicate treatment.
Initial treatment measures for status asthmaticus involve administering intravenous bronchodilators and oral steroids to help open the airways. An unresponsive patient can be placed on a mechanical ventilator to prevent total lung failure. Once the inflammation has subsided and the patient can breathe on their own, specialists can conduct further diagnostic tests to check for permanent damage to the airways.
Most people who receive emergency asthma treatment experience full recoveries. Before leaving the hospital, a patient usually meets with a specialist who can determine their asthma triggers and suggest ways to better avoid them. A patient is usually prescribed daily oral medications to help manage symptoms and a high-potency bronchodilator inhaler to use if another attack occurs.
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