ABSTRACT

Asthma is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. With adequate

treatment children with asthma can live normal lives and participate in the same activities as their peers. The aim of modern asthma treatment is

symptom control, with adequate attention to reducing underlying inflam-

mation. This requires appropriate treatment, with the use of the lowest

doses of medication possible. Written asthma management plans have been

shown to improve asthma control in both adults and children (1). These

plans usually include some asthma education and monitoring of either

peak expiratory flow (PEF) or symptoms. Most studies show a reduction

in hospitalization, emergency room visits, visits to the doctor, days off work, or school and nocturnal asthma. In children symptom monitoring has

been successful in a number of studies. Although symptoms can be used

effectively to monitor asthma there still may be a role for objective measure-

ments of lung function and inflammatory parameters in children. Children

are not necessarily good at perceiving airway obstruction (2). This may

complicate the monitoring of asthma in children. In addition, parents and

caregivers are not always reliable witnesses, as they do not spend all day with children.