The beta-2-agonist perplexity: pro and contra sympathomimetic drugs in childhood asthma

The present overview covers recent research results concerning treatment with beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists in adults and children with asthma. Special care was taken to summarize only papers and abstracts which were published in peer reviewed international journals and to omit chemical company supported brochures and public relations material. There are only a few reports available dealing with the beta-2-agonist dilemma in the pediatric literature and the efficacy and safety of the new long acting beta-2-agonist therapy in childhood asthma is only starting to be investigated. By weighing the current knowledge it is attempted to draw some conclusions for the therapy today.