Interdisciplinary Team Approach for Asthma Essay

Interdisciplinary Team Approach for Asthma - Essay Example This paper illustrates that 20-year-old James, an engineering student, was admitted to the adult ward with complaints of a cough, chest tightness, wheezing since one day and difficulty in breathing for 2 hours. Prior to the onset of these symptoms he suffered from running nose for a couple of days. He had no fever, vomiting or abdominal pain. A cough was worse in the nights and in the early morning. Exercise and exposure to cold increased a cough. On further inquiry into the past history, the patient complained that he suffered from repeated attacks of a cough and chest tightness on and off since 6 months, especially when he had the running nose or was exposed to the cold environment. Since the symptoms were not severe, James did not see a doctor then for those symptoms. However, breathlessness in the current episode made him come to the hospital. James was a smoker and smokes about 3-4 cigarettes a day. He consumes alcohol occasionally. He did not have hypertension or diabetes. He h ad no known allergies. His father is a known patient with asthma. On examination, James was alert and oriented to time, place and person. He was finding it difficult to talk continuously. He preferred to sit and talk and avoid lying down. He had no cyanosis or peripheral edema. He appeared mildly pale. Respiratory rate was 25 per minute, pulse rate was 100 per minute, temperature normal, blood pressure 130/80mmHg. Auscultation of the chest revealed presence of breath sounds bilaterally with prolonged expiration. Rhonchi were heard in the basal areas of the chest. Occasional crepitations were also heard. Saturations were 90 percent. Examination of the other systems was unremarkable. In view of the severity of the condition and low saturation on pulse oximetry, James was admitted to the adult ward for further, evaluation, observation, and management. James was accompanied by his parents.