In June 2002 the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) released an update to the previous guideline first released in 1991 and revised in 1997. This report includes even stronger evidence about the importance of inhaled corticosteroids as first line therapy for patients with persistent asthma.

Highlights include:

• Daily use of inhaled coricosteroids is preferrred therapy for children and adults with symptoms more than twice a week or nocturnal symptoms more than twice a month.
• Addition of a long-acting beta-2 agonist such as salmeterol improves asthma symptoms  and lung function in children and adults with daily symptoms or night-time symptoms occurring more than once a week.
• Antibiotics are not recommended for asthma exacerbations unless there is evidence of a bacterial infection.
• The expert panel continues to recommend written asthma action plans to help educate patients about self-management. They also continue to recommend peak flow monitoring to increase patient and caregiver awareness of the disease status and control and to enhance communication between patient and health care provider.

For more details and a summary copy of the guidelines please visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/index.htm