Patient education.

Only recently has it been appreciated that the considerable morbidity of asthma can be reduced with tools readily available to every physician who treats children. The pharmacotherapeutic armamentarium has been strengthened by better understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma, the impact of inflammation, and the role of preventive therapy. The task remains to put this expanded knowledge to use to help a larger number of children with asthma and their families to diminish the impact that the disease has on their lives. Concomitant with increased understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and the medications used to control the process has been a greater appreciation of the role of co-management or self-management. Several programs have been developed to help parents and children with asthma gain better control over the disease, thus decreasing morbidity and significantly improving quality of life. These programs are available to physicians and health care organizations, and it is strongly recommended that asthma education, both as a formal course and in the physician's office, be regularly incorporated into the care plan for every child with asthma.