The standardized and mini versions of the PAQLQ are valid, reliable, and responsive measurement tools.

Objective: The Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) is a validated tool developed to assess the impact of symptoms on quality of life. Here we assess the validity, reliability and responsiveness of two new simpler versions of this questionnaire: the Standardised PAQLQ and the MiniPAQLQ.

Study Design And Setting: Participants included 42 children with asthma, who completed the PAQLQ, PAQLQ(S), MiniPAQLQ, Asthma Control Questionnaire, and Health Utilities Index at baseline, one, five and nine weeks.

Allergies in children.

An estimated 25% of the British population suffers from some form of allergic condition. Atopic dermatitis and food sensitivities are more common in infants and younger children, with hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), perennial allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma developing throughout adolescence. Allergic reactions occur as a result of an interaction between allergen and mast cells via the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE).

"Why does he wheeze?": wheezing and asthma in young children.

Wheezing is common in young children and parents often worry that the child has asthma. The diagnosis of asthma in the under-fives is not always easy but assessing the severity of wheezing and whether it is transient, intermittent, persistent or associated with viral infection helps health professionals to rationalise treatment. This article outlines the different patterns of wheezing and some current approaches to management.