Diagnosing asthma in young children: current research & recommendations.
Asthma is the leading pediatric chronic illness in the United States, and there has been a steady increase in the incidence of asthma in children younger than 6 years of age. Early intervention for asthma decreases morbidity, controls health care costs, and may even preserve lung function. Asthma is difficult to diagnose in young children and is under-diagnosed in this population. It is important for primary care nurse practitioners to diagnose asthma in young children in a timely manner so that therapy can be initiated. This article reviews current recommendations for diagnosing asthma in young children and highlights new and promising diagnostic tools for asthma.
Friedman
Tamar
T
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, 271 Linden Ln, Merion, PA 19006, USA. tamare@nursing.upenn.edu
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant