Revista alergia Mexico (Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico : 1993)
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Morbidity and mortality by bronchial asthma continues to be a serious public health problem all over the world. Bronchial asthma is considered the most common chronic disease among children and asthmatic crises are the most frequent cause for visits to the emergency room. Among adults, bronchial asthma has also a high rate of morbidity and repercussions in productivity as well as in the costs of the health systems that assist them. On the other hand, despite the development of the International Guidelines for the DIAGNOSIS and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (IGDTBA), supported by the best scientific medical researches based on evidence, which recommend the prompt and regular use of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of the persistent clinical forms of bronchial asthma to reduce their morbidity and mortality, this has not yet been modified. ⋯ The persistent morbidity from bronchial asthma in our study is due to: a) Most of physicians who care for asthmatic patients in emergency or outpatient services are not familiar with the International Guidelines for the DIAGNOSIS and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (IGDTAB) and those who state that they do know about them have no interest in using them with their patients. b) Inhaled corticosteroids, recommended as the first line of anti-inflammatory medications for regular treatment of bronchial asthma, are not used by the majority of physicians. c) Asthmatic patients who follow regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids account for lesser than 50%. d) There is no communication or cooperation among the different levels of medical attention for asthmatic patients (emergency medical service, outpatient service and specialists in asthma) for their education and treatment under the same parameters (IGDTBA), which partially explains the persistent morbidity and visit to emergency department.