Chest pain and non-respiratory symptoms in acute asthma
W M Edmondstone
The Royal
Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, Hants PO12 2AA, UK
Correspondence to: Dr Edmondstone
Submitted 26
October 1999;
Accepted 20 December
1999
The frequency and characteristics of chest pain and
non-respiratory symptoms were investigated in patients admitted with
acute asthma. One hundred patients with a mean admission peak flow rate of 38% normal or predicted were interviewed using a questionnaire. Chest pain occurred in 76% and was characteristically a dull ache or
sharp, stabbing pain in the sternal/parasternal or subcostal areas,
worsened by coughing, deep inspiration, or movement and improved by
sitting upright. It was rated at or greater than 5/10 in severity by
67% of the patients. A wide variety of upper respiratory and systemic
symptoms were described both before and during the attack.
Non-respiratory symptoms occur commonly in the prodrome before asthma
attacks and become more frequent after onset of the attack. Chest pain
is usual during asthma attacks. Although it is benign and self limiting
it may cause diagnostic confusion and patient distress.
Keywords: asthma; chest pain; non-respiratory symptoms
© 2000 by The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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