Ma TT, et al. – In this current study, the specialists analyzed the predictive value of self–reported respiratory symptoms for diagnosing pollen–induced asthma among children and adults. Cough was considered as the predominant symptom in subjects with pollen–induced asthma. In children with pollen–induced asthma, wheezing was a reliable predictor, however, in adults, respiratory symptoms were not sufficiently reliable for diagnosing this condition.

Methods

•  This study included 1,161 patients with respiratory symptoms who presented to the respiratory medicine outpatient clinic of 2 central hospitals in Inner Mongolia during the pollen season of July–September 2015.
• By a respiratory physician, all patients were interviewed.
• All participants completed a questionnaire survey, lung function tests and skin prick tests for common inhaled allergens.

Results

• 392 patients (33.8%) were diagnosed with asthma and 292 (25.2%, 160 adults, 132 children) with pollen–induced asthma.
• Respiratory symptoms of cough, wheezing, dyspnea, chest pain and nocturnal awakenings due to breathlessness were all associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with pollen–induced asthma, with cough being the most common symptom in both adults and children, giving a sensitivity of 90.6% in adults and 88.6% in children. 
• Wheezing was the most specific symptom (78% and 89.5% in adults and children, respectively) compared to other symptoms. 
• The positive predictive value of respiratory symptoms was poor for diagnosing pollen–induced asthma, with the exception of wheezing in children which had a high positive predictive value of 72.7%.