1. 8. Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and anaphylaxis
Signs and symptoms
What are they?
Treatment

2. Asthma What is it? Signs /symptoms Treatment
Bronchus and bronchiole constriction
Air cannot leave the lungs so new air cannot enter
Not being able to speak in sentences (999)
Wheezing (exhaling especially)
Distress/anxiety
Blue skin, prominent neck veins
Inhaler (for conscious casualties) – help them – if it doesn’t ease call 999
Calm and reassure
Sit down and lean forward over a chair backwards

3. Diabetes
What is it?
Signs /symptoms
Treatment (assume “hypo”)
Inability to control blood sugar (lack of insulin or none, or it doesn’t work)
TYPE 1 – INJECTS INSULIN
TYPE 2 – DIET CONTROLLED
Balance between food and work as this affects blood sugar
Usually symptoms come from hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Stumbling, weakness, feeling faint
Slurred speech
Pale, cold, sweaty skin
Rapid, strong pulse
Loss of consciousness and collapse
Possible coma and death
Give sugar (sweets, sugar, dextrose)
Sit down or lie down and rest
If they don’t get better with sugar, call 999 as it might be hyperglycaemia
DO NOT EVER INJECT A PATIENT WITH INSULIN
Diabetics are prone to nerve problems and poor circulation so wound healing can be slow and sometimes they wont notice things like blisters forming

4. Epilepsy What is it? Signs /symptoms Treatment
Abnormal electrical activity in the brain affecting:
Consciousness
Behaviour
Emotions
Sensations
Motor functions
FOCUS SEIZURE – part of the brain
TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURE – whole brain
Collapse
Rigidity then convulsions (tonic-clonic)
Salivating and clenched jaw
Loss of bladder/bowel control
After they will be very tired/sleepy and will regain consciousness (responsiveness)
Protect them from further harm – cushion etc., protect the head if you can
Don’t anything I their mouth or try to open their airway
After a seizure, put in the SAP
NOTE THE LENGTH OF SEIZURE
CALL 999 IF
It lasts more than 5 minutes
It is their first ever seizure
Has more than one after the other
It is a result of an injury
Reasons for seizures
Epilepsy
Head/brain injury (eg. stroke)
Brain tumour
Infection
Hypoglycaemia
Poisoning
Hyperhtermia
Caridac arrest
Hypoxia
Triggers
Lack of food
Lack of sleep
Alcohol
Stress
Flickering lights

5. Not as serious, but what about fainting?
Slow pulse, pale and cold skin, sweating
Lie them down and raise their legs – fresh air
Reassure

6. Anaphylaxis What is it? Signs /symptoms Treatment
Serious allergic reaction – can be fatal and very quick onset
Overproduction of histamine – dilates blood vessels, bp drop, constriction of airways (why would your body normally do this?)
Anxiety
Swelling of face, eyes, neck
Blotchy read skin
Breathing difficulty
Rapid pulse
CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY
Inject with adrenalin (epi-pen)
- Hold the sides, not the end.
Thrust into the thigh (through clothes)
Hold in position for up to 10 seconds
Slowly remove
If symptoms don’t subside within 5 minutes, give a 2nd injection (new one)