oa Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology - Continuing medical education and educational materials for asthma in South Africa : guest editorial

Abstract

This edition of Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology focuses on asthma in children. We reprint the revised childhood asthma guideline from 2009, with kind permission of the South African Medical Journal. In addition, Sam Risenga has contributed an excellent article on difficult-to-control asthma. He highlights the concept of 'false' difficult-to-control asthma, which includes the incorrect diagnosis, the presence of comorbid conditions, continued exposure to aggravating factors, non-adherence to treatment and incorrect choice of inhalers or poor inhaler technique. Sharon Kling et al. give us a state-of-the-art review of current best practice for treating acute asthma in children, clearly laying out the cornerstones of acute asthma therapy. Finally Mike Levin has reviewed the issue of optimal aerosol delivery and important issues that may affect the selection of an appropriate device for a patient and the effective use of each device.