Monitoring tools for asthma in children
| Age years | ||||
| 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–6 | >6 | |
| Clinical tools | ||||
| Symptoms | x | x | x | x |
| C-ACT/ACT | - | - | x | x |
| ACQ | - | - | - | x |
| Exacerbations | x | x | x | x |
| QoLQ | - | - | - | x |
| Lung function | ||||
| Flow–volume curves/BDR | (Tidal) | (Tidal) | (x) | x |
| PEF | - | - | (x) | x |
| Rint-IOS-FOT | - | x | x | x |
| LCI | x | x | x | x |
| ILF | x | - | - | - |
| BHR | ||||
| Direct (methacholine/histamine) | - | - | (x) | x |
| Indirect (exercise, mannitol) | x# | x | ||
| Inflammatory markers | ||||
| FeNO | x | x | x | x |
| Induced sputum (eosinophils, LTE4, EPX) | - | - | - | x |
| Exhaled breath condensate | - | - | (x) | x |
C-ACT: Childhood Asthma Control Test; ACT: Asthma Control Test; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; QoLQ: quality of life questionnaire; BDR: bronchodilator response; PEF: peak expiratory flow; Rint; interrupter resistance; IOS: impulse oscillometry; FOT: forced oscillation technique; LCI: lung clearance index; ILF: infant lung function; BHR: bronchial hyperresponsiveness; FeNO: fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; LTE4: leukotriene E4; EPX: eosinophil peroxidase. x: can be used in this age category; (x): might be possible to use in this age group in specialised centres. #: modified exercise challenge possible at preschool age.