History |
- Time of onset of exacerbation
- Potential causes
- Severity of symptoms compared with previous exacerbation
- Response to treatments prior to admission
- All current medications, time of last dose
- Last course of systemic steroids
- Estimate number of:
- Previous office, ED visits for asthma exacerbations
- Hospitalizations for asthma, especially in the last year
- Respiratory insufficiency due to asthma (LOC, intubation, ICU admissions)
- Presence of complicating illnesses (pulmonary, cardiac)
- Diseases aggravated by steroid therapy (diabetes, hypertension, ulcers, psychosis)
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Physical |
- Assess severity, PASS
- VS, pulse oximetry
- Mental status
- Hydration status
- Cyanosis, pallor
- Respiratory distress
- Wheezing, decreased aeration
- Identify complications:
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Pneumomediastinum
- Rule out upper airway obstruction (croup, foreign body, etc.)
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