Paediatric asthma management in developing countries.
Asthma is a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence all over the world. The use of inhaled corticosteroids is the main treatment for asthma control. The use of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines may improve the quality of asthma treatment. Some of the directions in the GINA guidelines may be difficult to apply in developing countries. An important barrier to adequate treatment for asthma in low income countries is the unavailability of inhaled steroids for the general population. Asthma plans must be implemented in these countries with the participation of health systems, medical associations and the pharmaceutical industry. Adaptation of international guidelines to the local situation must occur to make asthma treatment possible for every asthmatic patient. In this paper, we present a review on this subject showing data on the initiatives that significantly improved asthma management.
Fischer
Gilberto Bueno
GB
Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Coronel Bordini, 830/509, 90440-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Camargos
Paulo Augusto Moreira
PA
D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic