What is a severe complication of asthma that may require intubation?

Status asthmaticus is a severe complication of asthma characterized by a prolonged and extreme exacerbation of asthma symptoms that does not respond to standard treatment with bronchodilators or corticosteroids. This condition can lead to significant respiratory distress and hypoxemia, and it may progress to respiratory failure. In severe cases, when the patient cannot maintain adequate oxygenation or ventilation, intubation may become necessary to secure the airway and provide mechanical ventilation.

Chronic cough, while a common symptom of asthma, is generally not considered a severe complication that would require such invasive intervention. Exercise-induced bronchospasm refers to respiratory symptoms triggered by physical activity but typically resolves with the use of rescue inhalers and is not usually associated with the life-threatening severity seen in status asthmaticus. Viral infections can exacerbate asthma symptoms but, similarly, do not inherently lead to the same acute level of respiratory compromise as status asthmaticus would. Thus, the need for intubation is most commonly associated with status asthmaticus due to its severe and unyielding nature.