Skip to main content

Table 1 Case definitions for asthma, bronchiolitis and pneumonia

From: Factors associated with asthma among under-fives in Mulago hospital, Kampala Uganda: a cross sectional study

Diagnostic category

Criteria

Asthma

1) Cough, wheeze, difficulty in breathing (at least one)

Highly probable if 4 of 5 are present

2) Recurrent cough, wheeze and/or difficulty in breathing, positive history of atopy in child (eczema, rhinitis, food, conjunctivitis), history of asthma in first degree relative (at least one)

3) Fast breathing, chest in drawing, prolonged expiration, rhonchi (at least 3)

4) Good response to bronchodilators

5) Chest x-ray: normal or hyperinflation

Bronchiolitis

1) Age less than 2 years, cough, difficulty in breathing, index episode of wheeze (all must be present)

Highly probable if 1 and any other criteria are present

2) Fast breathing, prolonged expiration, chest in-drawing, rhonchi (at least two)

3) Total white cell count ≤15x109cells/l, CRP < 40 mg/l, positive RSV (at least one)

4) Chest x-ray: normal or hyperinflation

Bacterial pneumonia

1) Fever, cough and or difficulty in breathing (at least two)

Highly probable if 4 of 5 are present

2) Axillary temperature ≥38°C, fast breathing, chest indrawing (at least 2)

3) CRP 40 mg/l, total white cell count ≤ 15 ×109 cells/l, Neutrophils ≥65% (at least one)

4) Positive blood culture

5) Chest x-ray: alveolar infiltrates, consolidation, pleural effusion (at least one)

Viral pneumonia

1) Fever, cough, difficulty in breathing (at least one)

Highly probable if 3 of 4 are present

2) Axillary temperature ≥38°C, fast breathing, chest indrawing (at least 2)

3) CRP <40 mg/l, total white cell count <15 ×109 cells/l, lymphocytes ≥45%, positive RSV (at least one)

 

4) Chest x-ray: normal or diffuse infiltrates