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Mild, Moderate & Severe Asthma: Signs and Symptoms

Here are descriptions of asthma signs and symptoms that can be useful to determine the severity level of asthma.

If you think your child has asthma, the first step is to visit your healthcare practitioner for tests and recommendations (and click here to sign up for the Asthma Care Plan from Keas™ a website that helps you develop plans to keep you and your family healthy and happy). But here are descriptions I consider a good guide to determine the severity level of your child’s asthma.

Mild Asthma Moderate Asthma Severe Asthma
Symptom frequency and need for short-acting inhalerMore than twice a week, but not dailyDailyThroughout the day
Effects on lifestyleMinor limitations: occasionally missing school or work, and sometimes missing out on desired activities including sleepSomewhat limited: sometimes missing school or work, and sometimes missing out on desired activities including sleepMajor limitations: often missing school or work, and missing out on desired activities including sleep
Effects on sleep under age fourAwakened by their asthma once or twice a monthAwakened by their asthma three or four times a monthAwakened by their asthma at least once a week
Effects on sleep for older childrenAwakened at night three or four times a monthAwakened at night more than once a week, but not every nightOften awakened nightly
Pulmonary function testing compared to a healthy child of the same ageAt least 80%60-80%Less than 60%

 

If your child has no more than two asthma incidents a week, and asthma does not limit normal activities or wake your child up often, your child may have intermittent asthma, which can also benefit from asthma treatments and advice.

Last medical review on: March 03, 2015
About the Author

Alan Greene MD

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Dr. Greene is a practicing physician, author, national and international TEDx speaker, and global health advocate. He is a graduate of Princeton University and University of California San Francisco.
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