Table 1 Symptom score by clinical assessment in children with asthma (modified from K. Aas [25]).

P0.

Normal; no signs of bronchopulmonal obstruction

P1.

No dyspnoea. Slightly faint respiratory sounds.

P2.

No dyspnoea. Moderate rhonchi. Slightly prolonged expiration. The expiration may be audible.

P3.

No dyspnoea at rest. Abundant rhonchi. Slight use of auxiliary respiratory muscles. Low grade jugular recessions may be present.

P4.

Slight dyspnoea at rest. Abundant rhonchi. Obvious use of auxiliary muscles. Jugular and intercostal recessions. No cyanosis

P5.

Severe dyspnoe at rest. Abundant rhonchi. Wheezy expiration audible without stethoscope. Jugular, intercostal and subcostal chest recessions. Slight cyanosis may be present.

P6.

Alarming obstruction., often both inspiratory and expiratory. Faint respiratory sounds. Chest recessions. Use of auxillary respiratory muscles and high respiratory rate. Cyanosis may be present but not mandatory.