CHALLENGES OF DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF PRESCHOOL ASTHMA: CUR-RENT KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE

Abstract

Preschool Asthma (PA) is among the commonest respiratory problems in children with a considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the pediatric provider. A number of challenges including the use of unclear and am-biguous diagnostic terms, provider and parental misconceptions, drug cost and availability, and common presence of other conditions with similar presentation but different treatment complicates the situation with delay in correct diagnosis and proper treatment. Preschool asthma should be approached systematically based on current symptom severity and frequency with exclusion of other causes of airflow obstruction. It is recommended to avoid the use of terms like “Reactive Airways Disease” in clinical practice and follow evidence based asthma guidelines to en-hance the diagnosis and treatment of PA and facilitate communication between clinicians and parents.