Risk factors and its prevention

Abstract

Recent advances in the treatment of asthma have contributed greatly to the control of patient's symptoms and improvement of quality of life. Therefore, pharmacological therapies would only be paid attention to, and it should be easy to forget guidance of the environment control. In particular, it is likely that the spread of inhaled corticosteroids have led to such a situation. Failure to avoid from exposure with inhalant allergens such as dust mites and non specific factors including cigarette smoke and other air pollutions involved in the exacerbation of asthma results in severe or refractory asthma. Also anti-asthmatic drugs more than necessary could be prescribed in order to obtain good control. The Japanese Pediatric Guidelines for the Treatment and Management of asthma 2012 indicates that the basic idea of long-term management of asthma in children is not composed only of drug therapy, and environment controls and educational activities should be carried out as well. Chapter 4 entitled "Risk factors and its prevention", comments on risk factors of the onset and exacerbation of asthma, and recommends the methods of prevention of asthma.