Summary YR 2 CONTENT

Asthma vs COPD
Asthma-associated with children and onset in childhood
Common with FH and atopy
Symptoms associated with triggers and allergens

COPD-disease of smokers- associated with adults

Symptoms of both indistinguishable
 Cough
 Sputum
 Wheeze
 Breathlessness

Asthma- intermittent
COPD-chronic progressive decline with no relief

Causes of Asthma:

Risk factors of COPD:
Low birth weight
Smoking
Low socioeconomic status
Childhood infections
Asthma

Chest X ray:
Asthma- normal but may be hyperexpanded
COPD-hyperinflation
Loss of height of the convexity of the hemidiaphragm
More than 6 anterier or 10 posterior ribs above the diaphragm level on the mid-clavicular
line

Asthma- eosinophilic asthma
Can get more severe and persistant neutrophilic asthma- associated with frequent
exacerbations and fixed airway obstruction
Associated with co-morbitieis- resp infections, obesity,GORD,obstructive sleep apnoea

COPD- neutrophilic
COPD exacerbations-can be eosinophilic

Pulmonary function:
Both are obstructive diseases

Asthma- obstruction due to constriction
of bronchial smooth muscle, airway
hyper-reactivivity, inflammation-
increased eosinophils