Abstract

Six hundred and ninety-five attendances were made to the Accident and Emergency Department of a district general hospital over a 6-month period by patients with acute asthma. On hundred and thirty-five chest radiographs were performed, and the radiologists' reports analysed. Nineteen abnormalities were reported (14%) which may have altered the management of the patient. It is recommended that chest radiographs be considered in patients who do not rapidly respond to initial therapy.