Emergency treatment of acute asthma.

In assessing acute asthma, the physician must seek specific historical features, symptoms and physical findings. Recent work has shown, however, that while these features are associated with severity, their absence does not imply benignity. Objective measures of pulmonary function are required for accurate assessment of severity. A sequential treatment regimen using nebulized bronchodilators, vigorous rehydration, aminophylline, and corticosteroids should be employed. Status asthmaticus may require intubation and assisted ventilation and, as a last resort, inhalation anesthesia.