Rare causes of persistent wheeze that mimic poorly controlled asthma.
Upper airway obstruction can present with stridor or expiratory or inspiratory wheeze and is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma. As asthma is common, such cases can remain hidden among patients with lower airway obstruction who attend primary care or respiratory clinics. We describe four causes of upper airway obstruction (paradoxical vocal cord movement, subglottic stenosis, retrosternal goitre and double aortic arch) which were misdiagnosed as 'poorly controlled asthma'.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Matshediso Constantia
MC
Mokoka
Khalil
K
Ullah
David R
DR
Curran
Terence M
TM
O'Connor
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index