An asthmatic patient has difficulty in breathing. Which of the following would you administer to the patient? Why?

Options

A. Histamine to cause vasodilation in the alveoli
B. Norepinephrine, to contract smooth muscles in the bronchioles
C. Antihistamine, to counteract the broncho-constriction caused by histamine
D. Acetylcholine, to cause bronchoconstriction

Answer

To address the question regarding which substance to administer to an asthmatic patient experiencing difficulty in breathing, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand Asthma**:
- Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing. It can be triggered by allergens or non-allergic factors.

2. **Identify Symptoms**:
- During an asthma attack, the airways become constricted, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

3. **Evaluate Treatment Options**:
- The options provided include:
- Histamine (causes vasodilation)
- Not epiretrin (causes contraction of smooth muscles in bronchioles)
- Anti-histamine (counters bronchoconstriction)
- Acetylcholine (causes bronchoconstriction)

4. **Analyze Each Option**:
- **Histamine**: This would worsen the condition as it can cause bronchoconstriction.
- **Not epiretrin**: This would also worsen the condition by contracting the smooth muscles in the bronchioles.
- **Anti-histamine**: This is beneficial as it counters the bronchoconstriction caused by histamine, helping to relax the airways.
- **Acetylcholine**: This would exacerbate the condition by causing further bronchoconstriction.

5. **Choose the Correct Option**:
- The best choice for an asthmatic patient experiencing difficulty in breathing is **anti-histamine**. This medication helps to counteract the bronchoconstriction and allows for easier airflow through the airways.

### Final Answer:
You would administer **anti-histamine** to the asthmatic patient because it counteracts the bronchoconstriction caused by histamine, thus helping to alleviate the difficulty in breathing.

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