Symptom Recordings

Since birth, wheeze was recorded by the parents in daily diaries as composite dichotomized scores (yes/no).

Wheeze was explained as wheeze or whistling sounds, breathlessness or recurrent troublesome cough severely affecting the wellbeing of the child. In addition, the parents were given a book describing preschool wheezy symptoms.

The doctors at the COPSAC research unit reviewed symptom definition and the diary entries with the parents at the six-monthly clinical sessions and at acute clinic visits for wheezy episodes.