ARTICLES

Why Early Diagnosis of Pediatric Asthma Is Important

Asthma has received a very high attention in the past 2 decades, for a number of reasons.

1. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adults.
2. As data accumulated, asthma was recognized as a complex genetic disease, with numerous contributing genes.
3. It causes children to miss time from school and adults to miss time from work.
4. In latest 20 years asthma hospitalization and mortality rates increased in the United States and remain alarmingly high given the current state of knowledge. Asthma contributes to more than 500,000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths annually resulting in costs exceeding $12 billion.

Asthma is a disease marked by variable airway obstruction. This variable obstruction may result in variable symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and chest tightness. From the patient's perspective, these symptoms are the most obvious signs of worsening asthma.

Because the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of asthma have increased in children over the past several decades, the early and accurate diagnosis of pediatric asthma is important from at least two points of view:

1. The airway inflammation is not a static, reversible event. It may result in permanent changes; furthermore, progressive pathogenesis can occur even among infants or children with mild disease.
2. Environmental exposure to allergen, tobacco smoke, pollutants, low birth weight, and infections all play a contributing role in worsening the condition.

The most common asthma therapy in children is inhaled bronchodilator medications. They are highly effective in opening airways narrowed by asthma. In fact, they are the most effective. In addition, they have few severe side effects when used in the recommended dose and frequency. They are available by both metered dose inhaler and nebulizer. In very severe conditions doctor may prescribe other medications.

A last notice. Your child may take the medicine for about a week after the asthma symptoms end. If your child has more severe asthma and many episodes, he/she may need to take medicines every day, including one or more anti-inflammatory medicines.