Clinical meaning of the results of investigations performed in young children with severe, recurrent wheeze
| Diagnostic category | Number of patients | Age months | Number with UAA |
| 1. Asthma (presence of EB or BAL eosinophilia and/or thickened RBM) | 19/47 (41) (11/19 also had GOR, defined as an abnormal pH study and BAL fat-laden macrophages) | 28 (7–58) | 4/19 (21) |
| 2. Predominantly GOR (abnormal pH study and BAL fat-laden macrophages and normal biopsy) | 11/47 (23) (those with GOR in category 1 not included) | 28 (5–46) | 3/11 (27) |
| 3. Predominantly infection (significant bacterial growth and neutrophilia in BAL) | 6/47 (13) (a total of 12 patients had evidence of infection, but six of these also had GOR, and are in category 2). | 9.5 (8–13)# | 3/6 (50) |
| 4. No definite diagnosis | 11/47 (23) | 28 (6–57) | 3/11 (27) |
Data are presented as median (range) or n/n (%). UAA: structural upper airway abnormality on bronchoscopy; EB: endobronchial biopsy; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage; RBM: reticular basement membrane; GOR: gastro-oesophageal reflux. #: Significantly younger than all the other groups (p<0.05).