How to manage difficult asthma cases. An action plan for physicians and patients.
Patients with difficult-to-manage asthma represent one of the greatest challenges in primary care practice. Because these patients are at risk for life-threatening attacks, close monitoring is essential to ensure compliance and to control attacks or medication side effects. In this article, Dr Hunt discusses the many aspects of management, including assessment, identification of triggers, treatment planning, and patient and family education. An "action plan" that outlines the management program is described.
Hunt
L W
LW
Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. lhunt@mayo.edu
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D005938:Glucocorticoids