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 asthma6 | |
| COPD Inhaled foreign body Interstitial lung disease Airway stenosis Bronchiectasis Heart failure Lung cancer Tuberculosis | Congenital heart disease Pulmonary embolism Cystic fibrosis Breathing pattern disorders/panic attacks Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD) Upper airway cough syndrome Chronic cough syndrome Pertussis |