Pediatric Asthma Management in China: Current and Future Challenges

The purpose of this report was to review the state of asthma diagnosis and treatment in China and to examine challenges in achieving earlier diagnosis and treatment. The prevalence of asthma in children in China has increased over past decades, and data published in 2013 indicated a prevalence of 3.0% in children aged 0-14 years. Although this prevalence has increased, the percentage of children with acute asthma attacks decreased from 86% in 2000 to 77% in 2010, and the frequency of hospitalizations for asthma attacks decreased from 54.0 to 47%. These decreases are attributed to aggressive promotion of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) protocol and updated Chinese guidelines for the prevention and treatment of asthma in children. The use of inhaled corticosteroids increased and that of systemic corticosteroids decreased between 2000 and 2010. Despite these advances, a number of issues remain to be addressed. Parents lack basic knowledge of asthma and fear the use of corticosteroids. Physician education regarding the diagnosis of asthma in children aged < 6 years is lacking. Patients require training in the administration of inhaled corticosteroids and control of environmental triggers. The Chinese national guidelines for childhood asthma have been updated, but implementation remains a real challenge.