title: [Management of an acute exacerbation of asthma and COPD].
abstract: Asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease are chronic pulmonary diseases which have a high prevalence world-wide. Both conditions can deteriorate acutely and potentially put patients into life-threatening situations. Management of an acute exacerbation starts in the emergency consultation-setting and ends only once the longterm management has been thoroughly assessed and optimised in order to prevent future exacerbations. Exacerbation frequency is strongly associated with long-term morbidity and mortality in both diseases. Recent data have shown that short-course systemic steroids (5 days) for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of COPD are as successful as long-course treatments (14 days) in preventing exacerbations during the subsequent 6 months. Similarly the targeted use of antibiotics is discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik Baselland und Universität Basel.
authors.forename: Jörg D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Leuppi
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Pneumologie und Schlafmedizin, Universitätsspital (Inselspital) und Universität Bern.
authors.forename: Sebastian R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ott
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids