Chronic asthma: an update.

Abstract

Case Scenario Having just changed insurance carriers, a mother brings her 13-year-old son to your office for a routine physical examination. He has no current complaints except for chronic asthma. His past medical history is significant for several hospitalizations for asthma. His only current medication is an albuterol inhaler that he uses two to three times daily. Further questioning about home remedies reveals that in an effort to cut down on his chronic use of medication, he recently started taking the herbal remedies Ma huang and Dong quai as well as vitamin and mineral supplements. He wants to know how safe and effective these therapies are and if you have any other suggestions to help him with his symptoms and avoid another hospitalization. Because of its severity and complexity, asthma and its treatment are often frustrating for patients, families, and clinicians. Out of desperation, many patients and families turn to alternative therapies, such as nutrition, herbs, and Chinese medicine. With the growing interest in and use of alternative therapies, practitioners would do well to become familiar with them, their side effects, and potential benefits. Traditional medical management also has changed; modern therapy emphasizes anti-inflammatory rather than bronchodilator medication. This review focuses on modern management of chronic asthma symptoms and highlights recent evidence about the effectiveness and side effects of alternative treatments.