Pediatric asthma in a nutshell

• On the basis of strong research evidence, (1) asthma is a leading cause of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for children. • On the basis of research evidence, (2) implementation of asthma guidelines by medical professionals in not optimal. • On the basis of research evidence, (5) the Asthma Predictive Index supports a diagnosis of chronic asthma in children younger than 3 years. • On the basis of strong research evidence, (8) premedication with a short-acting β₂- agonist is the preferred initial therapy for exercise-induced asthma. • On the basis of strong research evidence, (9) anti-inflammatory therapy with inhaled corticosteroids is an effective treatment for asthma. • On the basis of research and consensus, (9) assessment of impairment and risk followed by scheduled assessment for asthma control is recommended. • On the basis of research and consensus, (9) the establishment of a close cooperative relationship among medical professionals, patients with asthma, and their families is an important component of asthma management.