title: Assessment of respiratory distress in the asthmatic child: when should we be concerned?
abstract: The physician caring for the acutely ill asthmatic child has a wide variety of signs and systems to assist in assessment. An assessment of the severity of the disease should be based on the medical history, and signs and symptoms due to hypoxia on various target organs. Laboratory evaluation, while helpful, has limited applicability in the young child but should be used as an adjunct to clinical assessment where necessary. Based on the history, physical examination, and laboratory assessment (when appropriate), acute asthma symptoms should be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Treatment then can be tailored to disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville 32207, USA.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Gayle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kissoon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010092:Oximetry; D010808:Physical Examination; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy