Assess severity Investigate potential complications Recommendations are presented for referral for consultation or care to a specialist in asthma care. The guidelines to help establish a diagnosis of asthma presented in this component are based on the opinion of the Expert Panel. Airflow obstruction is at least partially reversible. Alternative diagnoses are excluded. Each of these methods of assessment is described in this section.
Clinical judgment is needed in conducting the assessment for asthma.
Patients with asthma are heterogeneous and present signs and symptoms that vary widely from patient to patient as well as within each patient over time. A detailed medical history of the new patient known or thought to have asthma should address the items listed in figure 1-1 . See figure 1-2 for sample questions. See figure 1-3 for a description of the levels of asthma severity or have the computer score your patient's severity. See Component 2, Control of Factors Contributing to Asthma Severity , for more details.