Answer Happy

Mrs Ansimare has asthma and is recovering from a mild
coronavirus infection.
Normally she has to use a Ventolin® (salbutamol) inhaler to
relieve
her asthma only occasionally, but for the past few days she
has
needed to use her inhaler up to 4 times per day.
Despite her use of Ventolin®, she continues to suffer from a
persistent shortness of breath.
1. Why are her asthma symptoms so much worse?
2. Explain the pathophysiology behind an acute attack of allergic
asthma (the
immediate phase). Describe the mechanism of action and potential
adverse effects
of salbutamol in the context of treating acute asthma.
3. Explain the pathophysiological changes that occur with chronic
asthma. Describe the
mechanism of action and potential adverse effects of the drug class
that is most
commonly used to inhibit this chronic phase.
4. Her GP prescribes her fluticasone by inhalation twice daily.
Describe the advantages
and disadvantages of administering medication by inhalation. If she
is taking two
separate inhalers for fluticasone and salbutamol at the same time,
which should be
administered first and why?