Childhood asthma

Asthma remains one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It poses a real public health problem. It is essentially a childhood disease, as it generally begins early in life. Asthma continues to elude specific definition, and can currently only be characterized by functional terms. There is no gold standard for diagnosing asthma; no physiological, immunological or histological test is specific for diagnosis, and only response to treatment can confirm the disease. Asthma is a multifactorial disease in which it is difficult to distinguish causes from triggers. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial tubes, with hyperreactivity leading to bronchoconstriction in response to stimuli. In-depth treatment, based on inhaled corticosteroids, is therefore essential for optimal symptom control and improved quality of life. Management must be multidisciplinary and comprehensive, in close partnership with the family. The therapeutic approach of the future is undoubtedly personalized medicine.