Part 1: notes for participants
Presentation
Jessica is a 12 year old who has been coughing for 4 days. She is accompanied by her mother, who
has a letter from Jessica’s school about her reluctance to join in PE lessons. Although her mother has
not noticed anything at home, Jessica says that she coughs more than her friends and has difficulty
keeping up with them. Jessica’s records show that she has had five courses of antibiotics for cough
and upper respiratory tract infections in the past 2 years and Mum is expecting a further course of
antibiotics today. When questioned, Jessica’s mum reports that during these episodes she has noted
that Jessica has mild wheezing and is breathless. She is often woken from sleep during the episodes
with coughing and occasional wheezing at night during these episodes. She describes the cough as a
dry cough.
Part 2: notes for participants
Diagnosis
You judge, on the basis of the history, that Jessica has a high probability of asthma. Although she was
not actually wheezing at the consultation, and her FEV1 was close to the predicted level, you decide
to give her a reliever inhaler as a trial of treatment with instructions to take it if her breathing is noisy
and if she coughs excessively. You also give her a peak flow meter and ask her to complete a diary card,
which you will review on her return, two weeks later. (section 2.1.1, page 2)
A week later
Jessica and her mother return with the diary card, completed rather sporadically but demonstrating
peak flow variability with marked reduction after exercise. She had used the reliever inhaler on several
occasions, and it had definitely improved the symptoms. Jessica reported feeling a lot better, but she
was still not keen on joining in PE lessons, as she had been told off for using the inhaler on the hockey
pitch, which was embarrassing. (section 2.1.3, page 5)
Starting regular preventer therapy
You mention the possibility of starting inhaled steroids. Jessica goes very quiet, and eventually admits
that she has heard that steroids make you fat. Mum is also upset because she has heard that steroids
can stop children growing tall and instead they become very muscular. They insist that there must be
an alternative. Mum asks specifically about an expensive vacuum cleaner which she has heard will get
rid of all dust. (section 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, pages 34-35)