Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children. Advances in understanding its pathophysiology, along with emerging therapies and updated treatment strategies, underscore the importance of staying current with evidence-based care. However, many primary care professionals may still rely on outdated guidelines.
After completing this article, readers should be able to:
Describe the underlying pathophysiology of asthma.
Identify key clinical and diagnostic features of asthma in children and adolescents.
Recognize other conditions in the differential diagnosis of asthma.
Asthma affects nearly 5 million children and over 20 million adults in the United States (US), making it one of the leading chronic diseases.1 Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and reversible obstruction triggered by factors such as allergens, infections, and irritants. Signs and symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which can vary in severity. Asthma is controllable through trigger avoidance and by adhering to...
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