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Poor asthma control — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateRespiratory TherapeuticsPoor asthma controlGPhC CRA

A 19-year-old man with asthma asks to buy another salbutamol inhaler after using one canister in three weeks. He is waking at night with wheeze and has no preventer inhaler. What would you advise the patient?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Refer for urgent asthma review and discuss preventer therapy need

High reliever use and night waking indicate poor asthma control and increased exacerbation risk. The patient requires clinical review and likely initiation or optimisation of anti-inflammatory preventer therapy. Salbutamol provides symptom relief but does not treat airway inflammation. Supplying repeated reliever inhalers without review would miss a significant safety concern.

Reference: NICE CKS Asthma; BNF