Master Persistent Severe Asthma with Picmonic for Physician Assistant

Asthma is a chronic airway disease involving bronchial inflammation and hyperresponsiveness that leads to airway obstruction and the symptoms of difficulty breathing, cough and wheezing. Common triggers include cigarette smoke, dust, exercise, and exposure to cold air. Patients with severe persistent asthma have symptoms requiring a rescue inhaler multiple times per day, with nocturnal awakenings every night. Pulmonary function tests show a decrease to less than 60% of predicted normal. Severe persistent asthma requires advancement to step four on the asthma management protocol. This includes escalation to medium-high dose inhaled steroids with a long-acting bronchodilator, or addition of systemic corticosteroids. The anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, may also be added for patients with allergic asthma.