| Summary: | Asthma is the most commonly diagnosed long-term medical condition in the UK, affecting over 5 million people, of whom over 1 million are children (Asthma UK). The underlying pathology varies, but in general there is chronic inflammation of the lining of the airways that releases inflammatory mediators which trigger the smooth muscle of the airway to contract and narrow the air passages. The narrowing results in symptoms such as wheeze, cough, chest tightness and breathlessness. These symptoms can be measured by lung function tests that show evidence of airway obstruction and airway inflammation. A key feature of asthma is that the airway obstruction is reversible with medical treatment that relaxes the airway smooth muscle. The aim of this guideline is to provide clear advice for healthcare professionals and people with asthma to develop a personalised action plan. The plan should support self-management of asthma, and ensure that the person is receiving the best possible treatment for their current level of illness. The guideline covers children under 5, children and young people aged 5-16 and adults over 16 with suspected or diagnosed asthma. It focuses on the pharmacological management of chronic asthma, in particular the treatment pathway for people with uncontrolled asthma. It also covers adherence to treatment, risk stratification and self-management. The guideline does not cover the management of acute asthma attacks
|
|---|