Things you need to ask someone with asthma:
- Sx: wheeze, dyspnoea, cough, disturbed sleep
- Exercise - quantify distance to breathlessness
- Days per week off work or school
- Diurnal variation
- Triggers - RTIs, cold, exercise, pets, emotions, drugs
- How & when they monitor their asthma e.g. peak flow meter
- Use of preventers and inhalers. Has there been any changes?
- For elderly people, ask if they've had Fluvax and Pneumovax vaccines (major RF for infective exacerbation)
- Any other atopic diseases like eczema, hay fever, allergy
- Previous attacks or hospitalisations
- Family history of asthma
References:
- http://www.aippg.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=55254
