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The Perception of Asthma Severity in Children

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (WK Dolen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The ability to perceive the onset and severity of symptoms of worsening asthma is important, not only for initial diagnosis but also for early identification of an asthma exacerbation and prompt management. There are subjective and objective methods for identifying symptoms. Symptom perception is affected by multiple mechanisms, and not all patients can accurately perceive symptoms of airflow limitation. Hyperperceivers will report substantial discomfort in the face of minimal bronchoconstriction, and poor perceivers will report no symptoms even in the presence of severe obstruction. The use of objective measures of airflow limitation is essential for such patients. Regimens for training perception in children and adults have been studied and are available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Allergy-Immunology and Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

    Lindsay Still & William K. Dolen

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  1. Lindsay Still
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  2. William K. Dolen
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Correspondence to Lindsay Still.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

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Still, L., Dolen, W.K. The Perception of Asthma Severity in Children. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 16, 50 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-016-0629-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-016-0629-2

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