Current allergy and asthma reports
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Curr Allergy Asthma Rep · Nov 2007
Volitional nonadherence in pediatric asthma: parental report of motivating factors.
Volitional nonadherence is thought to be common among patients with chronic health conditions, including pediatric asthma. To date, no data have been published on the extent to which, and reasons why, families purposefully adjust their child's asthma regimen. ⋯ Motivating factors for increasing medications centered around achieving better symptom control, whereas reasons for decreasing medications involved a perception of less need (ie, asthma was better) and desire to reduce treatment burden. Our results suggest it is important to better understand volitional nonadherence so that behavioral interventions aimed at promoting adherence and health outcome can be more effective.
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Curr Allergy Asthma Rep · Nov 2007
ReviewExhaled nitric oxide: a test for diagnosis and control of asthma?
The fractional concentration of nitric oxide (FE(NO)) in exhaled breath is a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. The precise role of FE(NO) in the asthma management algorithm has not been defined. However, there are compelling data for use of FE(NO) for diagnosing asthma, assessing control and severity, titrating inhaled corticosteroids, and detecting ongoing airway inflammation. This article reviews the biology of nitric oxide in airway pathology and its role in asthma.