title: [Update on current care guidelines: asthma].
abstract: Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lower airways. The typical symptoms of asthma are cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Asthma is diagnosed based on measures of pulmonary function showing variable or reversible airways obstruction. The basic pharmacological treatment consists of alleviating the asthmatic inflammation with regular inhaled glucocorticoids and relieving sudden obstructions with as-needed inhaled beta2-agonists. The treatment is adjusted based on asthma control. If good control of asthma is not achieved with low to medium doses of inhaled glucocorticoids, additional control medication (inhaled long acting beta2-agonists, antileukotrienes, in adults also theophylline or tiotrohium) should be introduced.
authors.affiliation: Suomalaisen Lääkäriseuran Duodecimin.
authors.forename: Tari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haahtela
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Terttu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.forename: Tuomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jartti
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kankaanranta
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puurunen
authors.forename: Anssi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sovijärvi
authors.forename: Erkka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valovirta
authors.forename: Kari K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Venho
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D013806:Theophylline; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide