Medical treatment of asthmatic children before referral to a clinic for allergy. A comparison between the periods 1979-83 and 1988-91.

The use of antiasthmatic agents in children before referral to a children's clinic for allergy was studied in two periods (1979-83 and 1988-91). In the latter period, in contrast to the former, significantly more children were treated with peroral (73 and 43%, respectively) or inhaled beta 2-agonists (40 and 22%, respectively). In addition, considerably more children in the latter than the former period were or had been treated with inhaled steroids. On the other hand, most children used these agents either in short courses (41%) or on demand (30%). We conclude that, although there have been intensive educational programs specifically focusing on the proper use of antiasthmatic drugs during the last 10 years, still more information is needed by general practitioners.