title: A diagnostic approach to 'difficult' asthma.
abstract: When patients with asthma do not respond adequately to standard treatment, they are said to have "difficult" asthma. These patients require a lot of healthcare resources, are usually receiving long-term oral corticosteroid therapy, and are significantly sicker than other asthma patients, with attendant increases in morbidity and mortality. In these patients, the management areas summarized in table 1 should be fully explored to determine whether asthma is the correct diagnosis and whether the best care is being given.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rumbak
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Self
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents