January 2nd, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a nasal swab test to diagnose specific asthma subtypes for kids.  Precise diagnosis usually involves genetic analysis of a lung tissue sample taken by a procedure done under general anesthesia, an invasive procedure for children with milder disease.  The nasal swab approach could help clinicians prescribe medications more precisely and pave the way for research toward better treatments for lesser-studied asthma types.