17.01.8 Emergency Treatment of Asthma

When subjects with asthma are taken to the emergency department of the local hospital, the initial treatment is usually high dose salbutamol delivered by nebulizer. If this does not give enough bronchodilation, theophylline may be administered to increase the bronchodilation. In severe exacerbations of asthma, intravenous glucocorticoids are used, and it is usually the potent glucocorticoid prednisone.

In the ambulance, in severe asthma high dose salbutamol may delivered by nebulizer or, if that is not possible, intravenously. In severe asthma, intravenous glucocorticoid may be given by the paramedic. The glucocorticoid used for this is a relatively weak glucocorticoid – hydrocortisone.