| Group A | Group B | Group C | Total | |
| No of patients | 14 | 18 | 13 | 45 |
| Age (months) (median (range)) | 9.3 (5.0–23.3) | 12.5 (5.0–18.7) | 9.4 (4.0–21.6) | 9.6 (4.0–23.3) |
| Duration of symptoms (% of age) (median (range)) | 55 (18–96) | 57 (28–99) | 78 (19–100) | 59.6 (18.7–100) |
| Sex (No of females) (n (%)) | 6 (43) | 5 (28) | 4 (31) | 15 (33) |
| Atopy (n (%)) | 11 (79) | 8 (44) | 8 (62) | 27 (60) |
| Symptoms and findings (n (%)) | ||||
| Wheeze ever | 10 (71) | 12 (67) | 9 (69) | 31 (69) |
| Wheeze frequently | 6 (43) | 8 (44) | 5 (39) | 19 (42) |
| Cough ever | 8 (57) | 14 (78) | 9 (69) | 31 (69) |
| Wheeze and/or cough between colds | 6 (43) | 8 (44) | 5 (39) | 19 (42) |
| Dyspnoea | 5 (36) | 4 (22) | 3 (23) | 12 (27) |
| Respiratory infection in previous 6 weeks | 4 (29) | 8 (44) | 1 (8) | 13 (29) |
| Positive for human rhinovirus on PCR* | 8/13 (62) | 9/15 (60) | 2/12 (17) | 19/40 (48) |
Group A, reversible airway obstruction; group B, irreversible airway obstruction; group C, normal lung function.
*Data not available for all patients.