Asthma is a disease of the airways which makes breathing difficult. Asthma treatment has changed over the years.
Key Takeaways
- Acute asthma exacerbations are sudden and severe flare-ups of asthma symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
- Chronic asthma exacerbations involve gradually worsening symptoms over time, often caused by uncontrolled inflammation in the airways.
- Both exacerbations can be triggered by allergens, infections, or other factors, but they differ in onset, severity, and management strategies.
Acute vs Chronic Asthma Exacerbation
Acute asthma exacerbations can be triggered by exposure to allergens, respiratory infections, exercise, and stress, and require immediate treatment with quick-relief medications. Chronic asthma exacerbations can be caused by environmental factors, lifestyle factors, and underlying health conditions.
A person with acute asthma exacerbation can have difficulty breathing, feel tightness in the chest, and may cough up mucous or even blood. Acute asthma exacerbation is a common problem in children.
A chronic asthma exacerbation is a severe asthma attack that requires immediate medical attention. It is the most dangerous type of asthma and can lead to death if not treated properly.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Acute Asthma Exacerbation | Chronic Asthma Exacerbation |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sudden syndrome | Long term syndrome |
| Occurs | suddenly | Due Course time |
| Respiratory level | Increase | Increases after the age of 30 |
| Symptoms | Variable | Persistent |
| Treatment | Yes | Uncertain |
| Mood of the person | Agitated | Drowsy or confused |
What is Acute Asthma Exacerbation?
Acute asthma exacerbations occur when the airways react strongly to a trigger. The trigger can be anything from a virus to a cold or even exercise. In this article, we will focus on exercise-induced asthma attacks and how you can prevent them.
However, there are some other things that you can do in preparation for exercise that may help reduce your risk of attack. Acute asthma exacerbation is a sudden attack of airway obstruction, wheezing, and cough in patients with pre-existing asthma.
The severity of an acute asthma exacerbation ranges from mild to life-threatening. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and decreased activity level due to shortness of breath or fatigue.
Episodic acute asthma exacerbations often occur in the setting of viral respiratory infections, air pollution, or other triggers. Acute asthma can also be triggered by non-infectious factors such as stress, exercise, and cold air.
What is Chronic Asthma Exacerbation?
Chronic asthma exacerbation occurs when someone’s asthma has been well-controlled for at least 3 months but then suddenly gets worse. Also known as acute asthma or an acute severe asthma attack (ASA).
The exacerbation leads to difficulty in breathing and may appear fatal in some. Chronic Asthma Exacerbation is a common disease in children and adults. It causes difficulty in breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.
The most common types of treatments are inhalers, oral medications, steroids, and regular doctor visits. This article will explain how these treatments work and why they are so important for Asthmatic patients.
Most people think that this means going to the emergency room or doctor’s office for treatment. However, there are other treatments available for your relief from this condition.
Main Differences Between Acute and Chronic Asthma Exacerbation
- Acute can be treated back to normal, but Chronic is uncertain to recover back.
- Acute makes the person agitated, but Chronic makes the person drowsy or confused.
- https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/ajrccm.163.6.2006069
- https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003559.pub3/abstract
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
