Abstract
Japanese pediatric guidelines for the treatment and management of bronchial asthma (“the JPGL”) apply to childhood asthma from infancy to adolescence. Already, the JPGL have become popular with Japanese physicians because they are concise and useful. JPGL 2008 is the third version of the JPGL. This guideline has partially revised the section of pathology, the evaluation of asthma severity and treatment steps. JPGL 2008 incorporates new information derived from recent studies of asthma pathology. The sections on asthma severity and treatment steps are revised more plainly for choice and administration of drugs in the long-term management of childhood asthma. When the treatment is stepped down or stepped up, the understanding of “superficial severity” is important. On the other hand, when the long-term management and education of patients are advanced, the understanding of “true severity” is important.
