How Is Acute Asthma Treated In The Emergency Department?

— -- Question: How is acute asthma treated in the emergency department?

Answer: Acute asthma is potentially a medical emergency. Milder exacerbations can be treated at home with the collaboration of the physician, but more severe asthma attacks should be evaluated in an emergency department. There's usually an initial assessment to determine how bad the asthma attack is. And treatment includes the use of short-acting bronchodilators administered through nebulizers in inhaled form. Treatment for more severe attacks usually includes systemic corticosteroids, either by mouth or by vein. I would say that the most severe asthma attacks are treated in the hospital bed or even the intensive care unit.

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