Features which could be used to qualify the label ‘asthma’ in individual children
| Major category | Suggested qualifying features |
|---|---|
| Possible causal factors | Atopy (personal or familial) |
| Viral infection | |
| Prematurity or perinatal factors | |
| Cigarette exposure | |
| Other (for example possible air polution) | |
| Disease pattern and severity | Episodes (+ severity and response to treatment) |
| Intercurrent symptoms ( + treatment and level of control) | |
| Physiological features (by symptoms or appropriate measurements) | Bronchodilator responsiveness |
| Bronchoconstrictor responsiveness (specify stimulus) | |
| Persistent functional impairment (that is ‘irreversible’ element) | |
| Putative mechanisms (if known) | Airway inflammation |