| Taking a careful patient and parental history is critical in the diagnostic process. |
| When assessing for asthma, a child's physical symptoms and history fall into one of the following categories: (1) not asthma; (2) possibly asthma; or (3) definitely asthma. |
| You don't have to make a diagnosis in one visit. |
| Ask about symptoms and use of preventive therapies at every visit. Relevant information can be obtained at every visit. |
| Younger children with viral-induced asthma respond well to leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy. |
| Follow-up and control assessment is as important as blood pressure measurement. |
| Diagnosing the type of asthma affects management (intermittent/viral or persistent/seasonal). |
| Of children with persistent asthma, 50% have symptoms (i.e., are uncontrolled). |
| Of children who have respiratory syncytial virus, 50% <2 years old will develop asthma. |
| The mainstay of prevention for children is low-dose inhaled steroids, but the vast majority of children never need a combination of inhaled glucocorticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators. |