PEFR A Valuable Index for Categorising Cal

PEFR determination for assessment of ventilatory function in chronic air flow limitation has been widely practiced since 1959 because of its easy measurement, accuracy and reproducibility (Makerrow1958), In the present study PEFR readings in patients with acute severe asthma were determined to evaluate the rate of recovery from episodic attack.
Two groups of patients were identified with PEFR measurement. One group of patients with quick and complete recovery from asthmatic episode, described as "ACCELERATED RESPONDERS" and in the other group the recovery was slow and incomplete and were referred to as "SLOW RESPONDERS"
In spite of availability of powerful drugs for management, the factors affecting the natural history of attack and the response to treatment are still poorly understood. Recording of PEFR three to four times a day in patients with acute attack of asthma help us to predict confidently which patients will recover rapidly and which will not, and whose recovery will be slow and incomplete. The value of recording PEFR using the very handy robust instrument yielding valuable, and reliable informations for treatment and evaluation are discussed here.