J46: Status asthmaticus

The air is breathed in through the mouth or nose. From there the air goes into the trachea via the larynx. At the end of the windpipe are two bronchial tubes (or bronchi) branching away from it. The bronchial tubes run into the lungs. What is more, the bronchial tubes divide into even smaller branches. The larynx, the trachea, the bronchia and the lungs are part of the lower airways.

With asthma, the bronchial tubes are permanently inflamed. The bronchial tubes are also very sensitive. Certain triggers can make them narrow for a time. A number of things can cause asthma.

One possible cause is an allergy. But there are other things, too, that can favor the development of asthma. For example certain drugs, or breathing in tobacco smoke and other harmful substances may play a role.

Typical symptoms of asthma are coughing and breathlessness. An asthma attack also results in increased breathlessness and tightness in the chest. Asthma symptoms can get worse if you have been infected by pathogens. This may be the case with a common cold, for example.

You had a severe asthma attack that lasted several hours.