The definition and diagnosis of asthma.
Asthma defies precise definition, despite several carefully worded statements. Perhaps the most concise and useful description of asthma is "variable airflow obstruction". The diagnosis is made by recognition of a patterns of one or more characteristic symptoms including wheeze, cough, chest tightness and dyspnoea, and is best confirmed by evidence of variable or reversible airflow obstruction accompanying symptoms.
Sears
M R
MR
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics