Guidelines for ambulatory pharmacological treatment of acute and chronic asthma

Abstract

Recently it has been recognized that persisting inflammation in the airways is the cause of inespecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness, characteristic of asthma. Asthma is less equivalent to bronchospasm and more is a chronic inflammatory condition. The current emphasis for the control of asthma is placed on antiinflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids or cromolyn sodium.
The acute asthma and status asthmaticus are events in a chronic disease. Beta-2 agonist are of choice for this relapses. The aerosolized medications for asthma allows a rapid onset of drug action and, in addition, smaller drug doses required and systemic side effects are avoid or minimized. Three classes of drugs are available in aerosol form for asthma management: sympathomimetics, cromolin and nedocromil sodium, and corticosteroids. The rationale use of these medications is reviewed.