control of asthma. The aim of therapy is to achieve the best quality of life and minimize symptoms. Thus the goals of asthma care are:

Freedom from symptoms, acute attacks, frequent school absences and maintaining normal daily activities, sports participation and growth.

 What happens if asthma is not properly controlled?
If asthma is not properly controlled, it may lead to impoverished quality of life, repeated attacks which may be life threatening, poor growth and limitation of physical activities.

What are drugs used to treat asthma?

The drugs used to treat asthma fall into 2 broad categories:
(1) Relievers - that relieve the acute symptom
(2) Preventers – that prevent the acute attack.
Patients with persistent asthma require treatment with preventers such as inhaled steroids, long acting bronchodilators and other newer drugs such as montelukast which needs to taken daily on long term basis.
Patients with acute attack need to be treated in a hospital and require treatment with inhaled bronchodilators such as salbutamol and oral/IV steroids for the acute episode.


Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI/ Pumps): A suspension of drug (either solid particles or liquid droplets) in a gaseous medium forms a drug aerosol. This aerosol is available as a metered dose inhaler (MDI) that delivers a fixed amount of medication each time it is activated.


1. Remove the mouthpiece cover and shake the inhaler
2. Place the mouthpiece in the mouth between the teeth and seal lips around it, taking care not to bite
3. While breathing in slow and deep, press the canister and continue to inhale deeply
4. Remove the inhaler from the mouth and hold the breath for about 10 seconds
5. May repeat another inhalation after one minute.

In children, inhalation from an MDI directly may be difficult, as it requires hand-mouth co-ordination. Spacer devices are available that aid in such situation. The spacer is attached to the MDI and the children inhale from the spacer without having hand-mouth co-ordination. In small children babies (children below 3 year), who cannot inhale through a mouthpiece, a facemask is attached to the end of the spacer.

Last updated on 15-12-2003