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A registration study from clinical practice was set up to assess the prognostic value of symptoms and laboratory data at first visit for doctor-diagnosed `asthma' in early childhood. A total of 419 children aged 0-4 y, who were newly referred to the outpatient department of the Juliana Children's Hospital with possible asthma were enrolled over a 2-y period. Data from history taking, physical examination, laboratory tests for atopic status at first visit and data from follow-up visits were recorded. Two years after the first visit all medical records were reviewed for diagnostic label. The age groups 0-1 y and 2-4 y were analysed separately, because respiratory symptoms are often transient and sensitization to inhalant allergens is uncommon before the age of 2 y. The clinical diagnosis `asthma' was made in 113 of 231 (49%) children aged 0-1 y and in 144 of 188 (77%) children aged 2-4 y. Characteristics from history taking indicated shortness of breath was the most prognostic symptom in both age groups. Eczema, wheeze and non-allergic provoking factors (weather conditions) were further predisposing factors in the 0-1 y group, as were allergic provoking factors (inhalant allergens) and absence of ear-nose-throat-history in the 2-4 y group. Adding laboratory data to history total serum IgE had prognostic value, but specific serum IgE against inhalant allergens (Phadiatop[sup ®]) was a strong predisposing factor, especially in the 2-4 y group. These prognostic characteristics may enhance early recognition of asthma in infants and improve asthma care in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The self-administered Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Child Form (FAQLQ-CF), -Teenager Form (FAQLQ-TF) and -Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) were recently developed within EuroPrevall, a multi-centred study of food allergy in Europe. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the FAQLQ-CF, -TF and -AF.Methods: One hundred and one Dutch patients (31 children, 34 adolescents and 36 adults) completed the FAQLQ twice with a 10-14 day interval. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess test-retest reliability.Results: Test-retest reliability was excellent with ICCs and CCCs above 0.907, 0.975 and 0.951 for the FAQLQ-CF, -TF and -AF, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed that the mean differences of the test and re-test were all close to zero for the FAQLQs.Conclusions: The FAQLQs are reliable over a short time interval. The FAQLQs are not only excellent tools for group comparison studies, but also for monitoring individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]