Asthma – How Bad Is It?
By editor | August 31, 2007
Based on symptoms, physical examination, and the results of spirometry, the physician will determine the severity of your child’s asthma. Severity falls into four basic classifications, or steps:
- Step 1, mild intermittent: Symptoms occur during the day or night no more than two days a week or two nights a month. Flare-ups of symptoms are short, and often there are no symptoms between flares. The child’s FEV 1 is 80 percent or more of normal.
- Step 2, mild persistent: Symptoms occur two or more times a week but less than daily; nighttime symptoms occur more than two times a month. Physical activity levels are affected by flares. The child’s FEV 1 is still 80 percent or more of normal.
- Step 3, moderate persistent: Symptoms occur every day; night time symptoms occur once a week or more. Physical activity levels are affected by flares. The child’s FEV 1 is 60 to 80 percent of normal.
- Step 4, severe persistent: Symptoms occur continuously, with frequent flares; symptoms occur frequently at night. Physical activity is decreased. The child’s FEVl is 60 percent or less of normal.
It’s very important to remember that asthma severity can change. Any child with asthma may step up or down to a different level at any time. The symptoms may get better, or they may get suddenly worse. Children with asthma, no matter what their classification, can have severe asthma flares. Everyone responsible for your child needs to be alert for changes in your child’s asthma and aware that flares can happen unexpectedly.
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Tagged under:Asthma asthma severity nighttime persistent symptoms physical examination spirometry
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