[Acute asthma attack in children].

Asthma is one of the most common problems confronting the emergency department physician. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of the population have had manifestations of asthma. In pediatric patients it is the most common chronic disease, and is the leading cause of school absence. Asthma can be associated with a significant morbidity in terms of exercise intolerance and disruption of the family unit. In the present article, reference is given to three entities: bronchiolitis, wheezy bronchitis and bronchial asthma. The etiopathogenetic factors and mechanisms involved are reviewed in the light to give a rationale for what should be undertaken to treat and, thereafter, avoid asthmatic attacks in infants and children. Each occurrence of an asthmatic attack should provoke reflections concerning the actual state of diagnosis and the actual state of treatment. The final goals of an adequate long-term management of asthmatic children, which is unavoidable for most, are symptom freedom and optimized lung function. Good management will clearly help to avoid serious asthmatic attacks and to impede the development of an ongoing immunoallergic process of airway inflammation.