Severe persistent asthma

Asthma varies in severity. Symptons are permanent in severe persistent asthma symptoms are permanent, physical activity is limited, nocturnal attacks are frequent and there are significant large variations in bronchial flow.

In order to reduce the chronic incapacity and premature deaths from severe persistent asthma whilst enabling asthmatic patients to carry on an active productive life, international recommendations have been produced by GINA (Global initiative for Asthma), in a report entitled "Global strategy for asthma management and prevention". These recommendations are revised annually and list the different types of asthma, the diagnosis, different treatments and recommendations for management and prevention. The aim of these recommendations is to improve control of asthma (the report can be downloaded from the website http://www.ginasthma.com/).