Differential Diagnosis of Adult Asthma
Adults are rarely seen in the ED with their first presentation of asthma and they usually are aware of their condition. A confident diagnosis of asthma cannot be made on a single visit to the ED and conditions that may mimic asthma (see below) acutely should be considered:
| Conditions that mimic asthma [2] | |
| • COPD • Inhaled foreign body • Anaphylaxis • Airway stenosis • Bronchiectasis • Sarcoidosis • Lung cancer • Obliterative bronchioloitis | • Congestive cardiac failure • Pulmonary embolus • Pulmonary fibrosis • Hyperventilation syndrome • Gastro-oesophageal reflux • Rhinitis • Chronic cough syndrome • Vocal cord dysfunction |