How Does Status Asthmaticus Differ From an Acute Asthma Attack?
An acute, or sudden, asthma attack is usually caused by an exposure to allergens or an upper respiratory tract infection. The severity of the asthma attack depends on how well your underlying asthma is controlled (reflecting how well the airway inflammation is being controlled). An acute asthma attack is potentially life-threatening because it may continue despite the use of your usual quick-relief medications (inhaled bronchodilators). When the acute asthma attack is unresponsive to treatment with an asthma inhaler (albuterol), this may then be status asthmaticus, where you’d need immediate medical attention and treatment. Asthma attacks do not stop on their own without asthma treatment. If you ignore the early warning signs of an asthma attack, you put yourself at risk of developing status asthmaticus, which may require hospitalization for treatment. If you have an asthma attack that does not respond to your usual bronchodilator inhaler, this is considered to be a medical emergency.
