Respiratory Medicine for UPSC CMS: Asthma, COPD, ILD, Pneumonia and Pleural Effusion

Asthma#

Reversible airway obstruction. Triggers: allergens, exercise, cold, infection. Features: wheeze, dyspnea, cough, worse at night.

Treatment: SABA (salbutamol) reliever. ICS (fluticasone) preventer. LABA + ICS for moderate-severe. Omalizumab for severe allergic.

COPD#

Irreversible obstruction. FEV1/FVC <0.70. GOLD staging by FEV1 % predicted. ABCD assessment by symptoms + exacerbation history.

Pleural Effusion#

Transudate: CCF, cirrhosis, nephrotic. Exudate: Infection, malignancy, PE (Light criteria).

Pneumothorax#

Primary: Spontaneous in tall thin men. Secondary: underlying lung disease. Tension: emergency, needle decompression (2nd ICS midclavicular).