Differential Diagnosis Of Asthma

Before discussing the different diagnosis of Asthma, we first need to define what Asthma is. Asthma can be defined as ‘a long -term lung syndrome that inflames and constricted the airways'. Asthma causes periodic attack of wheezing, conciseness of breath and tightness of chest. Asthma affects people of all ages but it usually starts in childhood. The common symptoms of Asthma include

 Quick breathing

 Regular cough

 Feeling of nervousness or panic

 Wheezing

 Shortness of breath

Asthma is not diagnosed only on a single symptom while Doctors use combination of medical reports/history, symptoms and tests to decide that either a person with breathing problem has asthma or not. A doctor suspect Asthma based largely on a person's report of characteristic symptoms. Asthma diagnosis approach consists of following activities.

 Comprehensive medical history

 Physical examination of chest, skin and upper respiratory zone

 Spirometry to test reversibility

 Peak flow meter

 Allergy skin testing

Through this approach doctor will come to know that what your level of asthma severity is, whether it's irregular, mild, moderate or harsh. Your severity level will conclude that what treatment you will deal with.

Now we will describe the Asthma diagnosis approach in some detail.

Medical history:-

In this section doctor may ask you about your family history of asthma and allergies. Because if your parent or family members have nasal allergies or asthma, you have many chances for getting asthma yourself. He can ask you that whether you have asthma symptoms, and when and how often they take place. Your doctor can ask you about related health condition that can hinder with asthma management. These conditions include a liquid nose, sinus infection, reflux disease, and psychological stress. This information can help to identify your current health condition.268

Physical Examination: Doctor will check your breathing and try to find the signs of asthma or allergies. These signs may include nasal allergies, runny nose, cough and it may be possible that there is allergy on your skin. But one thing that must be keep in mind that the day doctor has checked you may not find any sign but still you can have asthma.

Physical finding includes

 Chest cavity

Especially in children, appearance of deformed shoulders and chest deformity

 Difficulty in breathing

Sound of wheezing during normal breathing. This symptom means you have some kind of airway blockage.

 Increased nasal emission

Swelling of tissues inside nose and nasal tumor

Pulmonary Function Testing (spirometry): Spirometry determines whether there is airflow hindrance and whether it is reversible over the short term. Spirometry measures the maximal volume of air compulsory exhaled from the point of maximum inhalation. To diagnose asthma, doctors will frequently do spirometry both before and after you use a short-acting bronchodilator. But there is a problem that young children create hurdles during spirometry because they can't use equipment easily.446

Peak flow meter: Peak flow meter is used to measure the peak expiratory flow of patient.

Allergy skin testing: Allergy skin testing may be used. But it is not essential that it always respond as a symptom of Asthma. This test will show that how responsive the patient is to a particular allergen. If doctor suspects a particular allergen, a blood test can be performed to determine the degree of sensitivity in response to allergen.