Acute asthma attack in children presenting to the emergency department. Survey of 96 cases

Throughout a 2-year period, children who presented at H?tel-Dieu de France emergency department (ED) with acute asthma were analyzed prospectively and data on their environment, family and personal history as well as treatment were recorded. Treatment delivered at the ED, response and further outcome were analyzed. Out of 2024 children aged less than 15 years, 96 (5%) had acute asthma attack. Their median age was 4 years and M/F ratio was 2:1. Median age at onset of asthma was 2 years. Only 66 patients were recognized as asthmatics and 20% were given regular inhaled daily treatment. Current attack was mild in 45%, moderate in 45% and severe in 10% of cases. Home treatment before ED admission was often inadequate. Nine patients required hospital admission after failure of treatment at the ED. Within a median follow-up of 12 months, half of the patients experienced further attacks sometimes requiring ED care (27%) or hospital admission (8%). These data highlight the fact that asthma in our country is still largely under recognized and inadequately treated.     

The access-block effect: relationship between delay to reaching an inpatient bed and inpatient length of stay

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between access block in the emergency department (ED) (defined as total time from arrival to transfer from the ED over eight hours) and inpatient length of stay (LOS). DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study of all admissions through the ED to a tertiary hospital in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, during 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total time in the ED and LOS, calculated in days from ED departure to hospital discharge (non-overnight admissions were assigned LOS of one day, and all LOS were truncated at 10 days). RESULTS: 11 906 admissions were included, and 919 experienced access block (7.7%). Mean LOS was 4.9 days in those who experienced access block (95% CI, 4.7-5.1), compared with 4.1 days in the no-block group (95% CI, 4.0-4.2; P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis showed that this "access block effect" occurred across different severities of illness and diagnoses. A strong relationship was found between longer LOS and arrival of access-block patients on the inpatient ward outside office hours (0800-1600 weekdays). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show an association between access block and a measure of outcome outside the ED. If the effect of access block on LOS is reproduced in other settings, there are major implications for hospital management.     

Impact of a chest-pain guideline on clinical decision-making

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a chest-pain guideline on clinical decision-making and medium-term outcomes of patients presenting to a hospital emergency department (ED) with non-traumatic chest pain. DESIGN: Before-and-after guideline implementation study. SETTING: Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, NSW (454-bed metropolitan teaching hospital), in the six-month periods before and after guideline implementation in February 2001. PARTICIPANTS: Patients presenting to the ED with non-traumatic chest pain who had chest-pain assessment forms completed by ED doctors, comprising 422/768 (54.9%) of those presenting before and 461/691 (66.7%) after guideline implementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appropriateness of admission/discharge decisions compared with decision of senior cardiologist based on guideline; death, recurrent chest pain, ED re-presentation and hospital readmission in the ensuing three months. RESULTS: After guideline implementation, appropriate admission/discharge decisions increased significantly from 180/265 (68%) to 261/324 (81%) (difference, 13%; 95% CI, 6%-20%). The largest increase was for patients at moderate risk of death or acute myocardial infarction within six months, from 39/96 (38%) to 57/103 (55%) (difference, 18%; 95% CI, 4%-31%). Increases were seen for both junior doctors (interns and resident medical officers) (18%; 95% CI, 7%-30%) and senior doctors (11%; 95% CI, 2%-19%). Logistic regression showed that implementation of the guideline, seniority of assessing doctor and patient history of coronary disease were independent predictors of appropriate decisions. There was a significant decline in re-presentations to ED with recurrent chest pain in patients previously presenting with cardiac or possibly cardiac pain, from 46/201 (23%) before implementation to 32/247 (13%) after (difference, 210%; 95% CI, 217% to 23%). CONCLUSIONS: The chest-pain guideline resulted in a significant improvement in clinical decision-making in the ED and reduced re-presentations with cardiac/possibly cardiac chest pain.     

Back for more: a qualitative study of emergency department reattendance for asthma

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reasons why individuals recurrently present with asthma to hospital emergency departments. DESIGN: A predominantly qualitative study in which participants were interviewed in-depth about their asthma. Data on medication use, respiratory health and asthma knowledge were also collected, and asthma severity was determined from medical records. SETTING: A tertiary teaching hospital and a suburban hospital emergency department (ED) from 1 March to 30 April 2000, and a rural hospital ED from 1 July to 31 August 2000. PARTICIPANTS: The participation rate was 32% of an initial 195 ED attendees (183 of whom were eligible) aged 18-70 years: 32 had presented to an ED for asthma care on more than one occasion over the preceding 12 months (reattendees), and 29 were non-reattendees. RESULTS: Two-thirds (22/32) of reattendees had chronic severe asthma and presentation to ED was deemed appropriate for 18 of these, indicated by recurrent severe asthma attacks despite seeking prior medical intervention. Reasons for re-presentation identified in a third of all reattendees included poor asthma knowledge, and financial and other barriers to medication use. CONCLUSIONS: We identified potentially preventable issues in about a third of patients (most of whom had mild to moderate asthma) who recurrently presented to EDs for treatment. The remainder of the participants sought emergency asthma treatment appropriately after failing to respond to medical care, and this was frequently in accordance with their asthma management plans.     

市炎支原体肺炎合并支气管哮喘患儿的血小板活化状态研究

目的研究观察肺炎支原体肺炎合并支气管哮喘患儿的血小板活化状态。方法选取2011年6月-2013年6月于该院进行诊治的56例肺炎支原体肺炎合并支气管哮喘患儿为观察组,同时将同期的56名体检示健康儿童设为对照组,然后将两组儿童的血小板活化指标进行检测与比较,并比较观察组中轻度、中度、重度哮喘与急性、慢性感染患儿的检测结果。结果观察组患儿的血小板活化指标均高于对照组,且观察组中重度哮喘患儿高于轻度与中度哮喘患儿。中度哮喘患儿则高于轻度哮喘息儿,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,而急性与慢性感染患儿之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论肺炎支原体肺炎合并支气管哮喘患儿的血小板活化指标呈现较高的状态。因此应注重对患儿此方面的监测与改善。     

Characteristics and outcomes of older patients presenting to the emergency department after a fall: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVES: To study older patients presenting to the emergency department after a fall--factors associated with the fall, injuries sustained and outcome. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis using the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS), the Trauma Registry and the patient information database (CCIS), in addition to the patient's emergency and inpatient medical records. SETTING: Emergency department of a major inner city teaching hospital, 1 June-30 November 1997. PATIENTS: All patients over 65 years presenting to the emergency department (ED) after a fall, for whom complete medical records were available. RESULTS: Of 803 patients over 65 years presenting to the ED after a fall, complete records were available for 733 (91.3%) (283 men and 450 women). Extrinsic (accidental) causes were implicated in more than a third of falls (313 patients [42.7%]). A high proportion of the patients were living at home (520; 70.9%) and walking unaided (389; 53.1%). Although absolute numbers of women increased with age, men were as likely as women to present after a fall. Many patients had fallen before--39% of the men (111/283) and 24% of the women (110/450). In 78 patients (10.6%), alcohol misuse may have been a direct cause of the fall. The overall injury rate was 70.5% (517/733 patients), the most common injury being an isolated fracture (269/517 patients; 52.0%). In all, 419 patients (57.2%) were admitted to hospital, 48% (200/419) with a fracture and 52% (219/419) for investigation of the medical cause of the fall. The median length of hospital stay was 6 days (mean, 10.4 days; range, 1-129 days); 35% (146/419) of patients were in hospital for more than 10 days. CONCLUSION: Older patients presenting to the ED after a fall had high injury rates, high admission rates and often prolonged hospitalisation. About a third had fallen before. Patients at risk can be identified in the ED and referred to falls prevention programs.     

联合检测血清SOD、ET和NO水平对小儿支气管哮喘的诊断价值

目的探讨血清SOD、ET和NO水平在小儿支气管哮喘检测中的重要诊断价值。方法选择本院2010年1月至2013年10月收治的支气管哮喘急性发作期患儿82例,分为重度组23例,轻、中度组59例。正常对照组为在我院体检合格的健康儿童74例。放射免疫分析法（RIA）测定血清SOD和ET,采用硝酸还原酶法测定NO。结果与正常对照组比较,支气管哮喘组,支气管哮喘重度组,支气管哮喘轻、中度组的血清SOD水平显著降低,血清NO和ET水平显著升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。几者联合检测的阳性率达91.46%（P〈0.05）。结论血清SOD、NO和ET可以作为诊断小儿支气管哮喘的重要指标,联合检测几者对小儿支气管哮喘具有重要的诊断价值。     

西替利嗪治疗轻中度哮喘患儿急性发作的疗效分析

目的观察西替利嗪治疗儿童轻中度哮喘急性发作的临床疗效。方法 90例轻中度哮喘急性发作患儿随机分为观察组和对照组,各45例,两组均给予常规治疗,对照组给予安慰剂,观察组予西替利嗪口服,2~5岁2.5~5mg,6~11岁10mg,1次/d,疗程5d。结果观察组有效率为91.1%,明显高于对照组的73.3%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后两组症状评分和肺功能指标FEV1/FVC、PEFR均有明显改善(P<0.05),且观察组症状评分低于对照组,肺功能指标FEV1/FVC和PEFR高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组治疗过程中均未发生明显不良反应。结论西替利嗪治疗儿童轻中度哮喘急性发作疗效显著,不良反应少,值得在临床推广。     

Treatment and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia at Canadian hospitals

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia is a common disease with a large economic burden. We assessed clinical practices and outcomes among patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to Canadian hospitals. METHODS: A total of 20 hospitals (11 teaching and 9 community) participated. Data from the charts of adults admitted during November 1996, January 1997 and March 1997 were reviewed to determine length of stay (LOS), admission to an intensive care unit and 30-day in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analyses examined sources of variability in LOS. The type and duration of antibiotic therapy and the proportion of patients who were treated according to clinical practice guidelines were determined. RESULTS: A total of 858 eligible patients were identified; their mean age was 69.4 (standard deviation 17.7) years. The overall median LOS was 7.0 days (interquartile range [IQR] 4.0-11.0 days); the median LOS ranged from 5.0 to 9.0 days across hospitals (IQR 6.0-7.8 days). Only 22% of the variability in LOS could be explained by known factors (disease severity 12%; presence of chronic obstructive lung disease or bacterial cause for the pneumonia 2%; hospital site 7%). The overall 30-day mortality was 14.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.8%-16.6%); 13.6% of the patients were admitted to an intensive care unit (95% CI 11.4%-16.1%). The median duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was 5 days (range 3.0-6.5 days across hospitals). Although 79.8% of patients received treatment according to clinical practice guidelines, the rate of compliance with the guidelines ranged from 47.9% to 100% across hospitals. INTERPRETATION: Considerable heterogeneity exists in the management of community-acquired pneumonia at Canadian hospitals, the causes of which are poorly understood.     

初诊哮喘儿童骨密度的变化及意义

目的 初步探讨支气管哮喘是否对儿童骨密度存在影响.方法 选择2010年5月至2011年6月在我院哮喘专科门诊就诊的190例初次诊断为支气管哮喘的患儿进行骨密度、身高、体质量的测量,同时选择同期、同年龄段在我院儿保科体检的166例正常儿童的骨密度、身高、体质量值作为对照.结果 ①哮喘组患儿骨密度Z值95％的置信区间...     

Effect of a community intervention on patient delay and emergency medical service use in acute coronary heart disease: The Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (REACT) Trial

CONTEXT: Delayed access to medical care in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is common and increases myocardial damage and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a community intervention to reduce patient delay from symptom onset to hospital presentation and increase emergency medical service (EMS) use. DESIGN AND SETTING: The Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment Trial, a randomized trial conducted from 1995 to 1997 in 20 US cities (10 matched pairs; population range, 55,777-238,912) in 10 states. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 59,944 adults aged 30 years or older presenting to hospital emergency departments (EDs) with chest pain, of whom 20,364 met the primary population criteria of suspected acute coronary heart disease on admission and were discharged with a coronary heart disease-related diagnosis. INTERVENTION: One city in each pair was randomly assigned to an 18-month intervention that targeted mass media, community organizations, and professional, public, and patient education to increase appropriate patient actions for AMI symptoms (primary population, n=10,563). The other city in each pair was randomly assigned to reference status (primary population, n=9801). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time from symptom onset to ED arrival and EMS use, compared between intervention and reference city pairs. RESULTS: General population surveys provided evidence of increased public awareness and knowledge of program messages. Patient delay from symptom onset to hospital arrival at baseline (median, 140 minutes) was identical in the intervention and reference communities. Delay time decreased in intervention communities by -4.7% per year (95% confidence interval [CI], -8.6% to -0.6%), but the change did not differ significantly from that observed in reference communities (-6. 8% per year; 95% CI, -14.5% to 1.6%; P=.54). EMS use by the primary study population increased significantly in intervention communities compared with reference communities, with a net effect of 20% (95% CI, 7%-34%; P<.005). Total numbers of ED presentations for chest pain and patients with chest pain discharged from the ED, as well as EMS use among patients with chest pain released from the ED, did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, despite an 18-month intervention, time from symptom onset to hospital arrival for patients with chest pain did not change differentially between groups, although increased appropriate EMS use occurred in intervention communities. New strategies are needed if delay time from symptom onset to hospital presentation is to be decreased further in patients with suspected AMI. JAMA. 2000;284:60-67     

Patient outcomes and length of stay in a stroke unit offering both acute and rehabilitation services

OBJECTIVES: To compare hospital length of stay (LOS) and outcome after stroke between patients in a stroke unit offering combined acute and rehabilitation services and patients treated elsewhere in New South Wales. DESIGN: Retrospective audit of two hospital databases (Diagnosis-Related Groups [DRG] database and Australian National Subacute Non-Acute Patient Classification System [AN-SNAP] database), with comparison with DRG and AN-SNAP data for NSW. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 242 episodes of acute stroke in patients admitted to the stroke unit of a metropolitan teaching hospital between July 1999 and November 2000, 113 of whom also underwent rehabilitation in the unit; 9777 episodes of acute stroke in the NSW DRG database, and 2350 in the NSW AN-SNAP database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute and rehabilitation LOS; mortality in acute care; FIM (Functional Independence Measure) score at discharge and change in FIM score; and discharge destination. RESULTS: Patients in the combined stroke unit had shorter LOS and better functional outcome in all DRG and AN-SNAP groups, with both higher discharge FIM scores and greater gain in FIM scores than NSW patients. Acute stroke mortality of 12% and nursing home admission rate of 15.5% in the combined stroke unit were not significantly different from rates for NSW (15.7% and 11.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Combining acute and rehabilitation services in a stroke unit may reduce LOS and improve functional outcome of patients with acute stroke.     

Trends in hospitalisation rates for road traffic injuries in child motor vehicle passengers in New South Wales, July 1998--June 2005

OBJECTIVE: To analyse changes in the incidence of injuries requiring hospitalisation for child passengers in motor vehicle crashes. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based study of children (aged 0 -15 years) residing in New South Wales and admitted to hospital for injuries resulting from a traffic crash in the period 1 July 1998 - 30 June 2005, identified from the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-standardised rates of hospitalisation for injuries, and trends by inpatient demographics, severity of injuries, and injury sites and types. RESULTS: 2297 children were hospitalised for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash over the study period. The overall hospitalisation rate for injuries was relatively constant, with a non-significant decline of - 0.4% (95% CI, - 3.1% to 2.3%). The rate of hospitalisation for serious injuries also declined non-significantly (- 5.5% [95% CI, -11.8% to 1.1%]). Only hospitalisation rates for traumatic brain injuries declined significantly (-11.1% [95% CI, -19.0% to - 2.8%]) over the study period. CONCLUSION: The rate of hospitalisation for injuries to NSW-resident child motor vehicle passengers due to traffic crashes has not significantly decreased. High hospitalisation rates and the subsequent burden to the community and public health system make further injury prevention efforts for child motor vehicle passengers a priority.     

孟鲁司特钠治疗小儿轻中度持续性哮喘疗效观 察

目的探讨孟鲁司特钠治疗小儿中轻度持续性哮喘的临床疗效。方法选取来该院进行治疗的轻中度持续性哮喘患儿80例．随机分为两组,对照组40例患儿给与布地奈德气雾剂进行治疗,观察组40例患儿在对照组治疗的基础上,再给予口服孟鲁司特钠片进行治疗。结果观察组患儿的临床总有效率为95．0％,对照组患儿的临床总有效率为77．5％,两者比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗后,观察组患儿的肺功能改善状况显著优于对照组患儿,比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗后观察组患儿的嗜酸粒细胞和血清IgE水平均显著低于对照组患儿,比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组患儿在治疗过程中均未出现任何不良反应。结论孟鲁司特钠治疗小儿轻中度持续性哮喘具有临床效果显著、不良反应较低、安全性高的优点值得推广应用。     

An assessment of the role of exhaled carbon monoxide in acute asthmatic exacerbations in hospitalised patients

Exhaled carbon monoxide is a useful marker of airway inflammation in untreated asthma. Whether exhaled CO is clinically useful in steroid treated patients in a hospital setting is uncertain. We therefore studied exhaled CO as a marker of asthma severity in clinical practice. Non-smoking "acute" asthmatics (hospitalised; n=33), "stable" asthmatics (n=35), and healthy controls (n=22) were recruited. Exhaled CO, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1 were measured daily (hospitalised cases) or once only (stable outpatients). Inpatients were managed without knowledge of the results. Exhaled CO levels in acute asthmatics (initial levels), stable asthmatics and controls were similar (median=2.0 ppm, h=5.05, p=0.08). In acute asthmatics, initial exhaled CO did not correlate with duration of hospitalisation, doses of intravenous corticosteroids, doses of nebulised salbutamol, PEF (% predicted) or FEV1 (% predicted). In stable asthmatics, exhaled CO did not correlate with corticosteroid dosage, PEF (% predicted) or FEV1 (% predicted). In the setting of acute hospitalised asthma patients, exhaled CO may not add any further to clinical management. This may in part be due to prior treatment with corticosteroids.     

支气管哮喘急性发作患者血清 sST2 水平及其临床意义

目的 探讨支气管哮喘急性发作时血清可溶性人基质裂解素2（sST2）水平及其临床意义。 方法 选取2017 年3 月—2018 年3 月广州市番禺区中心医院收治的128 例支气管哮喘急性发作患者作为观 察组,另选取同期本院健康体检者100 例作为对照组。比较两组血清sST2 水平、相关炎症因子及免疫球蛋 白E（IgE）的表达差异,并探讨sST2 与病情严重程度的相关性。结果 与对照组比较,观察组血清sST2、 白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、高敏C 反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、降钙素原（PCT）及IgE 水平升高（P <0.05）,而 IL-10 降低（P <0.05）。Pearson 相关分析结果显示,sST2 与IL-6、hs-CRP、PCT 及IgE 呈正相关（r =0.539、 0.587、0.421 和0.476,P =0.004、0.001、0.018 和0.011）,而与IL-10 呈负相关（r =-0.713,P =0.000）。重度 哮喘发作组患者治疗前血清sST2 水平高于轻度哮喘发作组和中度哮喘发作组（P <0.05）;重度哮喘发作组、 中度哮喘发作组及轻度哮喘发作组患者治疗后血清sST2 水平较治疗前降低（P <0.05）,但重度哮喘发作组患 者血清sST2 水平仍高于轻度哮喘发作组和中度哮喘发作组（P <0.05）。轻、中度哮喘发作组比较,差异无统 计学意义（P >0.05）。结论 血清sST2 水平可在一定程度上反映支气管哮喘急性发作患者病情严重程度,对 支气管哮喘患者病情评估具有积极意义。     

血清DcR3、PD-L1水平与支气管哮喘儿童肺功能的相关性及其诊断价值

目的 探究血清诱骗受体3（DcR3）、程序性死亡配体-1（PD-L1）水平与支气管哮喘儿童肺功能的相关性及其诊断价值。方法 选取2019年9月—2022年9月上饶市人民医院收治的150例支气管哮喘患儿作为研究对象,根据病情分为急性发作组和慢性持续组,分别有90和60例,选取同期在该院体检的150例健康儿童为对照组。比较3组血清DcR3、PD-L1水平和肺功能指标。Pearson法分析支气管哮喘儿童血清DcR3、PD-L1水平与肺功能指标的相关性。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清DcR3、PD-L1对支气管哮喘急性发作的诊断价值。结果 各组性别构成、年龄和BMI比较,差异均无统计学意义（P >0.05）。慢性持续组、急性发作组免疫球蛋白E、DcR3、PD-L1水平高于对照组,急性发作组高于慢性持续组（P <0.05）。慢性持续组、急性发作组第1秒用力呼吸容积占预计值（FEV₁）、FEV₁/第1秒用力呼吸容积用力肺活量百分比（FVC）、最大呼气峰流速（PEF）水平低于对照组,急性发作组低于慢性持续组（P <0.05）。Pearson结果显示,FEV₁与血清DcR3、PD-L1水平呈负相关性（r =-0.452和-0.489,均P <0.05）;FEV₁/FVC₁与血清DcR3、PD-L1水平呈负相关性（r =-0.447和-0.501,均P <0.05）,PEF与血清DcR3、PD-L1水平呈负相关性（r =-0.529和-0.497,均P <0.05）。ROC曲线分析结果显示,DcR3、PD-L1的最佳截断值分别为7.48 ng/mL、87.90 pg/mL,DcR3、PD-L1单独及联合辅助诊断儿童是否发生支气管哮喘急性发作的曲线下面积分别为0.789（95% CI：0.713,0.866）、0.776（95% CI：0.701,0.851）、0.879（95% CI：0.823,0.934）,敏感性分别为72.20%（95% CI：0.618,0.811）、71.10%（95% CI：0.606,0.802）、83.30%（95% CI：0.740,0.904）,特异性分别为66.70%（95% CI：0.533,0.783）、66.70%（95% CI：0.533,0.783）、78.30%（95% CI：0.658,0.879）。结论 哮喘患儿血清DcR3、PD-L1水平升高,且两者与肺功能指标相关,对评估支气管哮喘急性发作有较好的诊断价值。     

Asthma screening as part of a routine school health assessment in the Australian Capital Territory

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and performance of a routine screen for childhood asthma in new entrants to primary school relative to diagnosis by a paediatrician. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with a validation substudy. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: All 4539 new primary school entrants (mean age, 5.72 years; 95% CI, 5.71-5.74) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 1999; 180 of these children (73% of the 248 contacted) participated in the validation substudy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Performance of the screening test relative to a paediatrician's diagnosis of current asthma (defined as a history of wheeze suggestive of a clinical diagnosis of asthma within the past 12 months) based on history and examination. RESULTS: 3748 of the 4539 new primary school entrants (83%) returned completed asthma and respiratory questions. The screening test was positive in 38% of children. Estimated sensitivity was 92% (95% CI, 75%-99%); specificity, 76% (95% CI, 72%-80%); positive predictive value, 51% (95% CI, 41%-63%); negative predictive value, 98% (95% CI, 90%-100%); positive likelihood ratio, 3.8 (95% CI, 2.8-4.8); and negative likelihood ratio, 0.14 (95% CI, 0.02-0.33). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to conduct population screens for asthma that have good diagnostic test performance against a specialist paediatrician's diagnosis through school health programs. This approach could facilitate monitoring changes in asthma prevalence over time.