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Asthma is a disorder that causes problems breathing and is characterized by a wheezing noise. This article offers you a fast and concise look at the medical symptoms, cause, medical diagnosis and treatment options associated with this common breathing ailment .

Asthma

Asthma Signs or symptoms commonly commence in youth; nonetheless there are scenarios of adult onset.  Symptoms involve recurrent attacks of chest tightness and tough respiratory. A wheezing sound is normally heard when the asthmatic affected person is exhaling. The sufferer may hunch forward in an upright position in an attempt to alleviate the respiratory problems. Some sufferers may experience a cough, especially at evening, and the skin may become bluish. An acute attack can be very exhausting and scary to the sufferer and individuals near them.

Asthma is brought about by a spasm of the bronchi, which are the tubes transporting air the into lungs or by swelling of the mucus membranes lining the bronchi. This spasm response may develop from an Hypersensitive Reaction to an allergen such as pollen, dust, molds, foods, or pet dander. Still other triggers involve a respiratory infection (i.e. Bronchitis), or irritants such as cigarette smoke or chemicals. Aspirin may trigger an onset of asthma in some sufferers.

If the aforementioned signs or symptoms are noticed it can be needed to look for an evaluation by a doctor with no delay. The evaluation may include a physical exam , upper body x-rays, blood assessments, allergy exams, or lung performance analysis.

As for therapy extreme attacks may require crisis health-related attention. If the onset of asthma was during youth, 50% of those sufferers should outgrow the dysfunction naturally. For therapy of asthma assaults, a doctor may prescribe an expectorant to loosen mucus secretions; bronchodilators to widen airways; or advocate carrying a nebulizer, which is medication inhaled by use of a device that makes a fine spray.

Did you ever wish you had a simple tool that could walk you through your symptoms and lead you to an online diagnosis? Get a good idea of what your symptoms mean by simply answering yes or no using this Medical Symptom Diagnosis Tool.

suggested course of action for Mediastinal Lymphodenopathy?

Age 54

A Current diagnosis

I have done a Chest X ray followed by a CT Scan

Lymphnodes are enlarged and the conclusion from CT Scan is that it is Mediastinal Lymphodenopathy

I have also done ACE test and the reading is 47 mg/IUL

I have no symptoms of pain , coughing, weight loss ; though I get tired nowadays may be more I am not walking regularly and not fit

B Other parameters

Iam 54 yrs old male – height 5′ 10″ ,weight – 88 kgs

I am a hypertensive – take daily 2 Aten 25 tablets and 1 Telma 40
I took a MRI in oct 2007 – showed lacunar infract –take Clopilet 75 mg

My cholestrol levels have been high –My Triglyceride levels are elevated -above 200 – I take Storvas EZ

My Uric acid is at 8 ,Urea at 40 and S.Creatinine at 1.7 – have been asked to control this

C Suggested course by Chest physicians ; for A above

1 Some specialists advise that I should do a CT guided biopsy –

Radiologist had advised that Contrast had to be used to be able to locate the node tissue , which in my case is not advisable due to creatinine levels.

Therefore Chest physicians advise that success not guaranteed as the lymphnodes in lungs may not be located easily –( they could , if possible locate a node in the neck )

2 Another opinion is that we leave it as it is and do a scan after 3 months ( Chest X Ray one year back also showed some opacity and since there are no symptoms , may be there is no major cause for worry )

3 Do a PET CT scan

D Questions /advise

What would you suggest as the course of action ?

Is PET CT a good procedure establish with certainty whether it is Sarcoidosis or any other disease

What could be the underlying disease ( TB, Infection, Lymphoma , Sarcoidosis ) based on A and B above

Appreciate your medical advice

Answer
I don’t give medical advice and I am not a doctor. I don’t know what other tests they have done but some can give clues on what it might be.

An asymptomatic individual with bilateral hilar adenopathy with erythema nodosum or uveitis goes more along with sarcoidosis is my understanding according to what I am reading.

The chest x ray and PPD can give clues to the presence of TB but the ACE is normal and any cause of granulomas (TB, fungal, sarcoid) would give an elevated ACE level with the exception of HIV patients. I presume they did an HIV test also.

In terms of infection they can do EBV, CMV, toxoplasmosis, HIV serology along with others especially if they find atypical lymphocytes on the blood smear.

A CBC can reveal atypical reactive lymph’s along with abnormal cells of acute and chronic leukemia and rarely lymphoma cells.

Staging of lymphomas does involve other blood work that can include; an ESR for prognostic reasons along with screening for lupus etc; An alkaline phosphatase for bone involvement; Liver enzymes for that involvement; LDH calcium albumin for tumor mass assessment; BUN creatinine for renal involvement.

Of concern is the latter of elevated BUN creatinine and if that elevation is recent or if it’s a chronic elevation. If it’s a recent finding then imaging studies of the kidney should be undertaken. SLE lupus can also yield abnormal renal function.

It looks like you are in a bind. It would be nice to find an accessible lymph node for biopsy if one can be found.

Good luck