Amina is a teenager whose severe asthma often kept her from participating in activities with her friends. Her asthma wasn’t just difficult – it was life-threatening. Amina lived with her grandparents, both of whom had lung conditions too. She was experiencing frequent and severe asthma attacks.

To combat this, Amina was prescribed high doses of steroids and was started on biologic treatment to control her asthma. At first, she diligently followed her treatment, but the medication made her lose weight, which became a concern. Her doctors ran tests to rule out other issues, like diabetes, but they came back normal. Despite the medication, Amina was struggling to maintain control of her asthma and was still experiencing asthma attacks.

FeNO Testing: The eye opener

On one visit to her doctor, she did a FeNO test to get a clearer picture of her asthma.

When Amina took the test, her result was alarmingly high: 255 parts per billion (ppb). This result indicated that her asthma was uncontrolled, with high inflammation present in her lungs. The high FeNO level was a turning point – it was clear evidence of the risk she faced without strict adherence to her medication.

This result was an eye-opener, for the doctor, Amina, and her family. Seeing the numbers helped her understand that asthma control was not just about avoiding attacks but keeping the underlying inflammation at bay. With her grandmother’s support, Amina started following her medication routine closely, understanding the vital role it plays in reducing her risk.

Building a routine

Amina and her grandparents became more committed to keeping up with her treatment. She also went to monthly follow-ups to check her asthma control.

As Amina was more consistent with her treatments, her asthma began to improve. Her FeNO levels dropped, indicating that her asthma was under control. Her breathing and lung function improved, and over time her treatment was brought to a much lower dose.

Four years on

Today Aminas asthma remains stable, her lung function is back to normal, and she lives on minimal medication. FeNO testing was the key turning point to helping her and her family understand the importance of taking her medication, being able to see the underlying inflammation that was putting her at risk. 

If you or someone you know struggles with asthma, FeNO testing might be a helpful tool to understand what’s happening in the lungs and to stay on top of treatment.

This case study is based on true events. Names and ages have been changed for confidentiality.