Asthma with a wide and chaotic variation in peak expiratory flow (PEF) despite high doses of inhaled steroids, distinct from the controlled patterns of PEF variation seen in patients with uncontrolled asthma

brittle asthma

A rare form of ASTHMA affecting mainly females and featuring sudden, very severe, often life-threatening attacks. Those affected have a mild degree of immune deficiency, with poorly-controlled asthma in spite of substantial doses of inhaled steroids and wide diurnal swings in their peak flow meter readings. The term is also applied to people whose asthma is normally well controlled but who, nevertheless, suffer occasional sudden severe attacks.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

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References in periodicals archive

George had suffered with brittle asthma for most of his life and needed to make frequent trips to hospital.

Family hears boy, 11, may have survived deadly asthma attack if ambulance crew had taken him to hospital; Mother tells inquest her life is now consumed with grief

He was first diagnosed with breathing problems when he was just nine months old and was diagnosed with brittle asthma at the age of four.

Boy with asthma dies hours after 999 crew decide not to take him to hospital; George Smith, 11,from Stickney, Lincolnshire, would probably not have died had he have been rushed in the ambulance to hospital

He, then, said that Brittle Asthma is distinguished with recurrent severe attacks and has type one and two.

Anambra Government Sensitises Public On Asthma

HYDERABAD -- Brittle asthma is a rare form of severe asthma and the term 'brittle' means difficult to control, brittle asthma is also called unstable or unpredictable asthma because it can suddenly develop into a life-threatening attack.

Brittle asthma, difficult to treate : Pulmonologist

She said she suffered from brittle asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure.

'KARATE KIDDER' Black belt who got PS72k disability benefit was filmed winning gold at martial arts contest, trial told

"My eldest son, Mason, has brittle asthma and has been admitted to hospital eight times in the last three months.

I came so close to killing myself; DAD REVEALS HOW LACK OF SUPPORT FOR HIS AUTISTIC CHILDREN TOOK HIM TO THE EDGE

Sharon Pihema of Gisborne shared the story of her daughter, Tomairangi, 10, who has been hospitalised more than 90 times with severe brittle asthma and bronchiectasis.

Respiratory nursing: addressing inequality is the key to health

To complicate matters further, I also suffer from brittle asthma, osteoporosis and dysautonomia.

'My life in a world of agony'

I THINK the proposed ban on e-cigarettes is a brilliant idea as I suffer from brittle asthma.

E-cigarettes should be banned in public

Her nine-year-old grandson Toby was born with brittle asthma, a life-threatening condition which requires him to visit Birmingham Children's Hospital at least once a month.

Supergran Gillian's big leap for charity

Chorister Rowan Gillard's family say singing is helping to keep him alive, as the deep breathing involved alleviates the symptoms of the 'brittle asthma' which has landed him in hospital many times, including a spell on a life support machine as a small child.

Inspirational chorister in Llangollen return

He was later found to have brittle asthma, a severe form of the condition.

86% of Welsh asthmatics 'not receiving basic care - survey