Tegan Smith is six years old living in Mount Buller Alpine Resort, Shire of Mansfield of Victoria Australia with her parents from 2017 May onwards. Her dad John Smith is a very popular sportsman and a first-class cross-country and downhill mountain biker. Her mother Christine Smith from Warragul (a town in Victoria) had the history of allergy, sinusitis and nasal polyps. After moving to Alpine Resort, Tegan was perfectly OK, however recently experiencing allergic responses initially and then suffering from wheezing, fatigue, cough, stuffy nose, watery eyes, and postnasal drainage all of which began seven days ago. Her parents took Tegan to Mount Buller Medical Centre; she becomes increasingly dyspneic and more agitated despite treatment. Heart rate increases to 125 bpm, pulsus paradoxus increases to 30 mm Hg, respiratory rate increases to 35/min. Auscultation of the chest reveals moderate wheezing, which often ends expiratory. Rapidly forced expiration was also observed inaudible wheezing in few instances. After two-day admission, she was discharged home. Discharge medications included home nebulizer treatments and a metered dose inhaler (MDI). Respiratory ward clinical nurse Tania Herman explained how to use an MDI and focused on asthma education before discharge. Focus on the Tegan’s case study above, 1. Based on the information in the case study, which type of asthma is Tegan Smith likely to have suffered? 2. Discuss the pathophysiological changes in asthma. 3. Discuss different treatment options for asthma (Australian perspective). 4. List the standard asthma management education for parents and children before discharge (Australian perspective).
