Schoelles-Williams J, Kuhn R J
Florida A & M University, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tampa General Healthcare, Davis Islands, Tampa, FL, USA.
Pediatr Nurs. 1999 Jul-Aug;25(4):433-5, 455.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, which affects approximately 15 million people in the United States alone. With almost 5 million American children affected, asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Hospital admissions for asthma exacerbations continue to rise in the pediatric population despite advances in available therapy. Traditionally, asthma patients have been treated with beta agonists, corticosteroids, and theophylline to control their asthma. In the last decade, advances in both oral and inhalation therapy have expanded the long-term control options available to these patients. Inhalation therapy has received increased attention during this period due to the fact that this method of therapy is convenient, noninvasive, and effective.
哮喘是一种气道慢性炎症性疾病，仅在美国就影响约1500万人。近500万美国儿童受哮喘影响，哮喘是儿童期最常见的慢性病。尽管现有治疗方法有所进步，但儿科人群因哮喘加重而住院的人数仍在持续上升。传统上，哮喘患者一直使用β受体激动剂、皮质类固醇和茶碱来控制哮喘。在过去十年中，口服和吸入疗法的进展扩大了这些患者可选择的长期控制方法。在此期间，吸入疗法受到了更多关注，因为这种治疗方法方便、无创且有效。
