title: Canadian Pediatric Asthma Consensus guidelines, 2003 (updated to December 2004): introduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma have been published over the last 15 years, there has been little focus on issues relating to asthma in childhood. Since the last revision of the 1999 Canadian asthma consensus report, important new studies, particularly in children, have highlighted the need to incorporate this new information into asthma guidelines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature on asthma published between January 2000 and June 2003 and to evaluate the influence of new evidence on the recommendations made in the Canadian Asthma Consensus Report, 1999 and its 2001 update with a major focus on pediatric issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of asthma in young children, prevention strategies, pharmacotherapy, inhalation devices, immunotherapy and asthma education were selected for review by small expert resource groups. In June 2003, the reviews were discussed at a meeting under the auspices of the Canadian Network For Asthma Care and the Canadian Thoracic Society. Data published up to December 2004 were subsequently reviewed by the individual expert resource groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This report evaluates early life prevention strategies and focuses on treatment of asthma in children. Emphasis is placed on the importance of an early diagnosis and prevention therapy, the benefits of additional therapy and the essential role of asthma education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We generally support previous recommendations and focus on new issues, particularly those relevant to children and their families. This guide for asthma management is based on the best available published data and the opinion of health care professionals including asthma experts and educators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. becker@cc.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bérubé
authors.forename: Zave
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chad
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolovich
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Urzo
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovesi
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyttle
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazer
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Soren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pianosi
authors.forename: John Joseph
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reisman
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spier
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thivierge
authors.forename: Wade
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents