Table 1.

Diagnostic approach to asthma

Clinical history	Diagnostic tests
General data: age, sex, height, and weight (body mass index), smoking	Spirometry with a bronchodilator test
Family history: asthma and atopic status	Nonspecific bronchial provocation test
Personal history: atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and conjunctivitis, other allergies	Common aeroallergen skin tests
History of asthma: age of onset, severity at baseline, treatments performed and response, asthma admissions, requirement for mechanical ventilation for asthma	Total serum IgE levels
Background: chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyposis; sense of smell	Specific serum IgE levels
Background intolerance to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Peripheral blood eosinophil count
Background: gastroesophageal reflux	Sputum eosinophil count

Abbreviation: IgE, immunoglobulin E.