[Suggestions for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma (author's transl)].

The diagnosis of bronchial asthma is difficult because dyspnea as the leading symptom is ambiguous. Often other diseases with dyspnea are called asthma. For long term treatment it is necessary to know the pathogenesis of asthma and the factors triggering attacks. This in many cases needs special investigations. In the present paper some proposals are given to make a preliminary diagnosis on the basis of history and simple clinical findings, giving the indication for consecutive investigations respectively referring the patient to a specialist.