title: Help patients gain better asthma control.
abstract: *Assess asthma severity before initiating treatment; monitor asthma control to guide adjustments in therapy using measures of impairment and risk (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [NHLBI] and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program [NAEPP] third expert panel report [EPR-3]). *Base treatment decisions on recommendations specific to each age group (0-4 years, 5-11 years, and >or=12 years). *Use spirometry in patients >or=5 years of age to diagnose asthma, classify severity, and assess control. *Provide each patient with a written asthma action plan with instructions for daily disease management, as well as identification of, and response to, worsening symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Nevada-Reno, CarsonCity, NV 89703, USA. drstoloff@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Stuart W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Stoloff
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry