Miranda O. is an 11-year-old patient with asthma who has poor academic performan
ID: 71074 • Letter: M
Question
Miranda O. is an 11-year-old patient with asthma who has poor academic performance in her fifth-grade class. This was brought to the mother’s attention by her teacher. She is disruptive in class and has difficulty paying attention. Her asthma is well controlled. Medications: Advair inhaler 100/50 1 puff INH BID Proventil inhaler 2 puffs INH prn Singulair 5 mg qHS Physical Examination and labs: WNL
What is your differential diagnoses (3-4) with this patient and your presumptive diagnosis? What diagnostic tools might you do to confirm this?
Explanation / Answer
Moderate Asthma have been shown to have no effects in the cognitive ability or academic performance.However, chronic Asthmatic disease have been shown to have negative impact on the cognitive ability and academic performance and psychosocial behavior. Early detection and diagnosis in this case may lead to considerable increase in the psychosocial behavior and performance. Even though the asthma is well controlled, the asthmatic condition of body metabolism affects the neuronal development, and so it must be the reason for her being disruptive in class and difficulty in paying attention.