Somashekar, et al. [1] published their study on evaluation of asthma control in children Using Childhood-Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ) in a recent issue of Indian Pediatrics [1]. I seek following clarifications:

1.　　Spirometry is an important objective measure of airflow limitation, but valid measurements depend on patient’s ability to perform full, forceful and prolonged expiratory efforts, which are generally feasible in children aged >6 years. At ages <6 years, its valid measurement is exception rather than rule, and highlights effort-dependence of valid spirometric testing [2].

Peak expiratory flow rate monitoring devices are less sensitive and less reliable as compared to spirometry. If used over a period of several weeks, they enable to find out personal best and diurnal variation.

2.　　Study was done over a period of 6 months (It should be from April 2014 to September 2014).

3.　　Although authors’ acknowledge language barrier being one of the limitations of the study, I would like to know if C-ACT Questionnaire was translated in Hindi/Kannada or English version was used? Getting it translated and answering in regional/ local language would have better validated results.

4.　　Whether clinicians taking patient history and performing clinical evaluation to assess asthma control were blinded to patient responses on the questionnaires to reduce the subjective nature of the questionnaire [3]?

1. Somashekar AR, Ramakrishnan KG. Evaluation of asthma control in children using Childhood – Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ). Indian Pediatr.　2017;54:746-8.

2. Liu AH, Covar RA, Spahn JD, Sicherer SH. Childhood Asthma. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme III JW, Schor NF, editors. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 1st South Asia ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 2016. p. 1095-1115.