title: The Perception of Asthma Severity in Children.
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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology and Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. lstill@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Still
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology and Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Dolen
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D062072:Patient Acuity; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Asthma; Peak expiratory flow rate; Perception; Resistive load training; Spirometry