What are the examination measures for bronchospasm

Bronchospasm is a complication caused by many diseases and is not an independent disease. Although the bronchi are independent, bronchospasm is mostly related to upper respiratory tract infections and recurrent mucosal lesions. In addition, many people often experience coughing and wheezing due to external stimuli. Certain allergens and neurological factors may cause bronchospasm. Patients need to undergo lung function tests to check whether there is infection in the lungs, whether the cell function is normal, and whether they have asthma-related diseases. A reasonable diagnosis should be made to check whether they have had bronchial asthma or influenza recently. According to the pathological causes, treatment should be carried out through medication and examination, and then slowly adjusted through medical methods to speed up recovery and achieve the best treatment effect.

examine

1. Pulmonary function test

The lung ventilation function of patients with well-controlled asthma is mostly within the normal range. During an asthma attack, due to limited expiratory flow rate, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), one-second rate (FEV1/FVC%), maximum mid-expiratory flow rate (MMER), maximum expiratory flow at 50% and 75% of vital capacity (MEF50% and MEF75%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) are all reduced. There may be a decrease in forced vital capacity, an increase in residual volume, functional residual capacity and total lung capacity, an increase in the percentage of residual air in total lung capacity, and restrictive ventilation dysfunction. It can gradually recover after treatment.

Pulmonary function tests are very helpful in diagnosing asthma and are an important indicator for evaluating the severity of the disease and also an important indicator for evaluating the efficacy of treatment. Asthma patients should have regular lung function tests. Daily monitoring of PEF helps assess the degree of asthma control.

2. Sputum eosinophil or neutrophil count

It can assess airway inflammation associated with asthma.

3. Determination of exhaled NO (FeNO) concentration

It can also be used as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. Sputum eosinophil and FeNo examinations can help select the best asthma treatment.

4. Allergen test

The allergic status of asthma patients can be confirmed by allergen skin testing or serum specific IgE measurement to help understand the risk factors that lead to the occurrence and aggravation of individual asthma, and also to help determine specific immunotherapy plans.

5. Chest X-ray

There are usually no obvious abnormalities in the remission period of asthma. During an asthma attack, the translucency of both lungs can be seen to increase, and they are in a state of hyperinflation. If complicated with respiratory tract infection, increased lung texture and inflammatory infiltration shadows may be seen. At the same time, attention should be paid to the presence of complications such as atelectasis, pneumothorax or mediastinal emphysema.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Influenza

The onset is acute, with an epidemiological history. In addition to respiratory symptoms, systemic symptoms such as fever and headache are obvious, and virus isolation and positive complement fixation tests can be used for identification.

2. Upper respiratory tract infection

Symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat are obvious, but there is no cough or sputum, and no abnormal signs in the lungs.

3. Bronchial asthma

Patients with acute bronchitis accompanied by bronchospasm may experience wheezing and wheezing, which should be differentiated from bronchial asthma, the latter of which has symptoms and signs such as paroxysmal dyspnea, labored expiratory breathing, wheezing, full lung wheezing, and orthopnea.

Treatment principles

Find the primary disease that causes bronchospasm, treat it according to the cause, relieve bronchospasm symptomatically, and give muscle relaxants to reduce the increase in respiratory impedance caused by choking and coughing. The use of drugs such as β2 agonists is relatively safe. Inhaled administration has the same effect as parenteral administration, with fewer side effects. Hormones can relieve bronchospasm.