Asthma in children

Childhood asthma has a very high disease burden measured in financial and social terms. Wheezing in the preschool age has increased but prediction of long-term symptoms is difficult. The mechanisms causing inflammation are now better understood. Guidelines for management are well established but the use of measures for inflammation, such as exhaled nitric oxide, are less clinically helpful than expected. Tertiary asthma clinics have been established nationwide to manage very severe asthma. Recent tobacco laws will help with long-term management of asthma and there may be emerging evidence that asthma control is generally improving. There are few new medications for asthma management but leukotriene receptor antagonists in young children, combination therapy in school age and omalizumab in very severe asthma show encouraging results.