ASTHMA ATTACK

 

Symptoms | When to call | Homecare Advice

 

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR ASTHMA ATTACK

Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If

  • Severe difficulty breathing (e.g. struggling for each breath, unable to speak, or speaking in single words)
  • Bluish lips, tongue or face
  • Wheezing started suddenly after medicine, an allergic food or bee sting
  • Passed out (fainted)

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

  • You feel weak or very sick
  • Feel like you did when hospitalized before with asthma  
  • Difficulty breathing not gone within 20 minutes after neb or inhaler
  • Peak flow rate less than 50% of baseline level (personal best)  
  • Peak flow rate 50-80% of baseline level after using neb or inhaler
  • Wheezing (heard across the room) not gone within 20 minutes after using neb or inhaler
  • Continuous (nonstop) coughing that prevents work or sleep and does not improve after using neb or inhaler
  • Asthma medicine (neb or inhaler) is needed more frequently than every 4 hours
  • Fever of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher
  • Fever of 100.5 F (38.1 C) or higher and you:  
    • Are over 60 years of age:
    • Have diabetes mellitus or a weakened immune system (e.g. HIV positive, cancer chemotherapy, chronic steroid treatment, splenectomy)
    • Are bedridden (e.g. nursing home patient, stroke, chronic illness, recovering from surgery)
  • Severe wheezing or coughing and you don't have neb or inhaler available (e.g. ran-out, lost)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If

  • You think you need to be seen
  • Lots of yellow or green nasal discharge now with a fever
  • Nasal discharge present longer than 10 days
  • Sinus pressure or pain (around cheekbone or eye)
  • Fever present longer than 3 days
  • You have any of the following asthma risk factors:
    • Prior tube in your windpipe for asthma
    • Hospitalized this past year for asthma
    • Need for frequent steroid (e.g. prednisone) bursts
    • Recently tapered or stopped using steroid

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

  • You have other questions or concerns
  • Missing more than 1 day of work or school per month for asthma
  • Asthma limits exercise or sports
  • Asthma attacks frequently awaken from sleep
  • Uses more than 1 inhaler/month
  • Mild wheezing persists longer than 5 days
  • No asthma check-up in over 1 year

Self Care at Home If

  • Mild asthma attack and you don't think you need to be seen

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Adult SelfCareNavigator. Copyright © 2000-2004 David Thompson, M.D. FACEP

Reviewed 8/2004

Revised 8/2003

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