Paediatric asthma

Childhood asthma has been with us for many years, and prevalence has been increasing. Asthma is the fifth most common killer in our country, and although it may not kill as many people as infectious diseases, the quality of life of an asthmatic may be seriously impaired, leaving a child or adult with compromised lung health that never goes away. The diagnosis of asthma, which is characterised by variable expiratory airflow limitation, is primarily based on recurrent cough and wheeze. Asthma management should be personalised, and long-term asthma management involves assessing, adjusting and reviewing treatment response. Medication should be titrated up or down for individual patient needs.