Throughout this paper, the pathophysiology of Asthma and the clinical manifestations of this respiratory illness will be explored and discussed, while looking specifically at the case study Zachy, a seven-year-old boy suffering from asthma. These findings, once explored will be linked to this unique case, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the effects asthma has on a pediatric patient can be determined.

Asthma is a non-curable respiratory disease that disrupts the lung functionality of an individual due to chronic airway inflammation. Although this disease is unable to be cured, medication has a been adapted to ensure that this respiratory illness is controlled (Fehrenbach, Wagher & Wegmann, 2017). When investigating the incidence of Asthma …show more content…
Zachy's mother Sally described signs of rapid breathing and wheezing during a phone call prior to his arrival. Sally also stated that Zachy had been experiencing a runny nose for the last two days, in which he has been home from school. As the nurse on the other end of the phone listens to the clinical manifestations described by Sally, already she is able to conduct a brief respiratory assessment.This is illustrated through the use of her evidence base clinical reasoning skills in relation to respiratory illness and advise Sally to get to emergency as soon as possible to avoid further deterioration. Once presented to the hospital a physical assessment is conducted. An auscultation assessment of the pediatric patient, reveals that Zachy is experiencing prolonged expiration and wheezing on expiration, suggesting Zachy is experiencing symptoms within the early-phase of asthma. These clinical manifestations are an indication of partially obstructed or narrowed airway (Hodge, Unknown). This is due to the change in Zachy’s airway pathophysiology with the movement of inflammatory cells into his airways resulting in the thickening of airway walls and productions of phlegm within the airways (Des Jordins, G.Burton & H. Phelps, 2015). This physical assessment also establishes that the patient is experiencing a continuous, dry cough (as stated within the nursing progress notes). This cough experienced by Zachy may indicate a nonproductive cough, meaning it does not result in the production of sputum, rather indicating the progression of asthma and the possibility of bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness and oedema of the airways due to continuous inflammation (Krans & Cherney, 2017). This progression indicates that Zachy is moving towards