When wheezing may not mean asthma. Other common and uncommon causes to consider.
Establishing that wheezing is not due to asthma requires attention to the patient's history, physical examination results, and response to therapy. If the diagnosis of asthma is questionable, appropriate pulmonary function tests should be performed to firmly establish or refute that the wheezing is due to asthma. If asthma is not the cause, other entities need to be considered so that inappropriate therapy is not prescribed.
University of Miami, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33140, USA. bronchobruce@pol.net
Bruce P
BP
Krieger
D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*