Evaluation of home-monitoring of asthmatic children with the mini-Wright peak flow meter.

The amount of medication required to control asthmatic wheezing varies from patient to patient. While the amount required can be assessed clinically from history and physical examination, an objective measurement to assess the patient's requirements is highly desirable. For this purpose the mini-Wright peak flow meter was used. The patient was shown in the office how to use the meter and then sent home to use the meter three times daily for 2 weeks and record each reading on the chart provided. After 2 weeks the chart and meter were mailed to the office where the patient's readings were compared with normal values. Then the patient's medications could be adjusted if necessary. A study of 55 patients showed that this is a very valuable method to assist the practicing physician in prescribing sufficient medication for adequate control, particularly in those patients who minimize their symptoms, either intentionally or unintentionally, so that the physician cannot make an adequate judgment. It was also very useful for convincing the parents or patients that continuous medication is necessary in many cases where they felt PRN medication to be sufficient. The use of this instrument should become a routine part of the management of all difficult asthmatic patients.