Gordon Bruce R
Department of Laryngology and Otology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008 Apr;41(2):375-85, vii-viii. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2007.11.007.
Asthma is suspected from a history of key symptoms, including cough, wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, and increased mucus production. A positive family or personal history of atopic diseases and diseases that are comorbid with asthma, such as allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, is also important. The differential diagnosis of asthma is broad and includes potentially life-threatening diseases. Pediatric asthma and psychiatric mimics require special attention to prevent misdiagnosis. Differentiating asthma from these other disease states by history alone is not always possible. Because accurate diagnosis is critical to successful treatment, objective testing by spirometry and methacholine challenge should be employed.
哮喘可根据关键症状史怀疑，这些症状包括咳嗽、喘息、呼吸困难、胸闷和黏液分泌增加。特应性疾病以及与哮喘共病的疾病（如过敏性鼻炎和鼻-鼻窦炎）的阳性家族史或个人史也很重要。哮喘的鉴别诊断范围广泛，包括可能危及生命的疾病。儿童哮喘和精神性模仿疾病需要特别关注以防止误诊。仅通过病史将哮喘与其他疾病状态区分开来并不总是可行的。由于准确诊断对成功治疗至关重要，应采用肺活量测定法和乙酰甲胆碱激发试验进行客观检测。
