Asthma?

[verity]

Last year I had a possible rib fracture, then pneumonia, then fluid on the lung, then a partially collapsed lung with fluid, then severe pneumonia with possible infection of the pleura; all with severe breathing problems (asthma), chest pains and palpitations. Resulting at the end of the year in scarring of the lung. The breathing problems had improved with the most recent x-ray showing the scarring to be considerably reduced. But the asthma and pains have now started to deteriorate again and a course of prednisole is not helping. Is this asthma?

Thank you for your time.

[National Jewish]

The course you have described is most likely to fit within the disease called reactive airways disease (RAD).  Asthma is one of the specific diagnoses in the category.  It is possible that during the course of one of these infections, an inflammatory condition has been created in your lungs.  This may continue to be a problem on and off in the future.  It is a good idea to speak with your doctor about getting a pulmonary function test with reversibility.  This will either make the diagnosis of asthma or rule it out.  Then appropriate therapy can be started.