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.