conditions that may present as refractory asthma

Introduction

All that wheezes (turbulent bronchial airflow) is not asthma.

Differential diagnosis

• upper airway obstruction
  • tumor
  • epiglottitis
  • vocal cord dysfunction
  • obstructive sleep apnea
• tracheomalacia/tracheal stenosis
• endobronchial lesion
  • bronchiectasis
  • bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  • bronchiolitis, croup
  • bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia
  • endobronchial tumor
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • emphysema
  • chronic bronchitis
• aspiration (foreign body)
• congestive heart failure
• gastroesophageal reflux
• sinusitis
• herpetic tracheobronchitis
• adverse drug reaction
  • aspirin
  • beta-blocker
  • angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
  • inhaled pentamidine
• allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• Loeffler's syndrome
• tropical eosinophilia
• hyperventilation with panic attacks
• factitious asthma
• alpha-1 antiprotease deficiency
• immotile cilia syndrome
• carcinoid syndrome
• pulmonary embolism
• chondromalacia/polychondritis
• cystic fibrosis
• sarcoidosis

Additional terms

• asthma