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Older woman breathing in through nose

Features and diagnosis of asthma

Asthma is a long-term condition characterised for the vast majority by trigger induced eosinophilic airway inflammation resulting in wheeze, breathlessness, cough, and chest tightness.

Before embarking on any treatment for asthma, it is essential to ensure that you, as the prescriber, can describe to the person with asthma:

  • the criteria by which they have been given the diagnosis of asthma.
  • what can be done about it?
  • what might happen if nothing is done about it

This article will take you through the features and diagnosis of asthma.