The nurse is admitting a client with a history of asthma attacks every other day and three episodes at night in the last month

Question

The client reports activity is somewhat limited. The nurse anticipates that the health care provider will determine the client's level of asthma to be:
1. severe.
2. mild persistent.
3. intermittent.
4. moderate persistent.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Severe asthma involves continuous signs and symptoms.
Rationale 2: This client fits the profile for mild persistent asthma with attacks that occur between three and six times per week and more than twice a month at night.
Rationale 3: Clients with intermittent asthma have episodes less than twice a week.
Rationale 4: Moderate asthma involves daily episodes and at least one nighttime episode weekly.
Global Rationale: Assessment of asthma severity is based on frequency of symptoms, the number of nocturnal attacks, and presence of activity limitations. Mild persistent asthma is diagnosed when attacks occur 3–6 days of the week, nocturnal attacks occur more than 2 times per month, and activity is somewhat limited. Severe asthma involves continuous signs and symptoms. Clients with intermittent asthma have episodes less than twice a week. Moderate asthma involves daily episodes and at least one nighttime episode weekly.