A unique, new diagnostic tool at Mackay Base Hospital is helping respiratory scientists quickly and easily diagnose asthma.
The FeNO device is a portable, hand-held machine which measures airway inflammation in patients in a 10-second slow expired breath.
Mackay Base Hospital clinical measurements scientist Matthew Hanson said the simple, non-invasive test measured the amount of nitric oxide in a patient’s breath to help diagnose and manage asthma.
“The exhaled nitric oxide test is different from most lung function tests in that you need to blow slowly and steadily for 10 seconds, not hard and fast, to get an accurate measurement,” he said.
The FeNO test could confirm an asthma diagnosis in patients aged four or older, rule out other symptoms similar to asthma and determine responsiveness to medication to help monitor chronic asthma.
“A high FeNO level (above 50 parts per billion) indicates active inflammation in the airways, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it is asthma,” Matthew said.
“The doctor will consider clinical history as well as other tests to make a final diagnosis, but knowing the airways are inflamed can be indicative.
“This device has the potential to help a lot of people we see in the hospital in addition to other lung functions tests like spirometry. Well-controlled asthma will also reduce the amount and frequency of exacerbations for patients, which means less presentations to the emergency department,” he said.
Asthma is a common chronic condition that affects the airways. People with asthma often experienced episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and fatigue due to narrowing of the airways.
Many people were now diagnosed with asthma older or their condition was actually triggered by environmental or seasonal factors such as cane, smoke or dust.
More than 2.8 million people or 11 per cent of the Australian population are estimated to be living with asthma.
