[First consultation for asthma]

The first medical visit is an essential moment of asthma management because it is a chronic disease needing a long term follow-up. This initial assessment which takes time, can be done gradually, on several days or even weeks. Once the differential diagnosis is excluded, the diagnosis of asthma is confirmed and its severity assessed. The identification of precipitant factors of asthma exacerbations goes through a detailed interview. Planning a therapeutic and supervision strategy with the patient has for goal the control of the disease and improvement of quality of life. Including the patient in the management of his asthma is only possible if he has been educated, patient education must be controlled and reinforced all the long of further medical visits.