General principles of asthma management: pharmacotherapy

Asthma, a disease of urbanized societies, has been increasing at an alarming rate on a worldwide basis. In recognition of this problem, the NHLBI developed the NAEPP in 1991. An expert panel was appointed that developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The original report has been updated several times, most recently in 2002. In this article the author focuses on the general principles of asthma pharmacotherapy in accordance with the conceptual framework that characterizes drugs as relievers or controllers. The preeminent use of ICS in the management of asthma sufferers who are characterized as having more than mild intermittent disease is emphasized, as is the principle of matching therapy with severity of disease.