Asthma is a complex, difficult illness that causes thousands of deaths every year, despite the availability of many medicines to control and treat the symptoms of asthma. Usually, symptoms of asthma appear at an early age, but it is hard to diagnose it hen, because its symptoms mimic those of viral illnesses like bronchiolitis, which is caused by several viruses. As children get older, they keep having repeated bouts of the symptoms, which eventually leads to the diagnosis.

There are many ways to treat asthma. The most important is prevention. Maintaining the asthmatic person in a smoke- and allergen-free environment is crucial. There are also many medicines to prevent asthma attacks, but these need to be used every day under the supervision of a doctor. These include inhaled steroids.

Then there are the medicines used to treat asthma attacks. The most common one is albuterol, a type of medicine called a bronchodilator, which helps open up the airways from the inside. Also, steroids (either intravenous or oral) are used in the acute phase of an asthma attack to decrease the inflammation surrounding the airways.

Education is an important component in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. Most patients need a plan of care which, in coordination with the primary care provider, will help explain to the patient and his family when to use the medicines. This plan of care usually alerts a patient and the family on how bad the asthma attack is, and whether they need the assistance of a doctor. This plan of care also points out the medicines the patient takes on a regular basis to prevent asthma attacks.

Asthma causes significant morbidity and mortality every year, and still causes thousands of deaths. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of asthma, and to provide the patient with a plan of care to prevent and treat asthma attacks.