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Classification of Asthma

Table of Contents


Overview

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program has classified asthma as:

These classifications are based on severity, which is determined by symptoms and lung function tests. You should be assigned to the most severe category in which any feature occurs.1

Intermittent asthma

Asthma is considered intermittent if without treatment any of the following are true:

Mild persistent asthma

Asthma is considered mild persistent if without treatment any of the following are true:

Moderate persistent asthma

Asthma is considered moderate persistent if without treatment any of the following are true:

Severe persistent asthma

Asthma is considered severe persistent if without treatment any of the following are true:

If you or your child has persistent asthma (mild, moderate, or severe) and is receiving appropriate therapy, the goal of treatment should be to control symptoms so that they occur only as frequently as those of intermittent asthma.


References

Citations

  1. National Institutes of Health (2007). National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (NIH Publication No. 08–5846). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/index.htm.

Credits for Classification of Asthma

Current as of: August 6, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
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