[Consensus asthma in children].

The conclusions are presented of a consensus meeting of the Central Advisory Committee for Peer Review concerning detection and treatment of asthma in children. The aims of the management of asthmatic patients are maximal control of symptoms and optimal long-term evolution. Asthma was defined as a disease characterized by reversible bronchial obstruction and bronchial hyperreactivity (i.e. increased sensitivity of the respiratory tract to aerogenic stimuli with the symptoms of dyspnoea, cough and/or wheezing owing to increased sensitivity of the respiratory tract to allergenic and non-allergenic stimuli with as the pathological substrate a chronic inflammatory reaction. The working hypothesis was that early recognition of asthma and adequate treatment can prevent or reduce respiratory problems at later ages. For the diagnosis, the follow-up of the disease and monitoring of the treatment, a few simple lung function tests suffice: determination of the expiratory peak flow and of the forced expiratory one-second volume. If the symptoms recur or are of a permanent nature, allergological examination is indicated. Basic elements of intervention are preventive measures, including cleaning up the living environment, drug treatment, attention for the experience of the disease and information. A specific recommendation is made for drug treatment, in the form of a step-by-step approach based on a division of the severity of the disease into four categories.