Surveys on the prevalence of pediatric bronchial asthma in Japan: a comparison between the 1982, 1992, and 2002 surveys conducted in the same region using the same methodology.

Background: We conducted and reported the first (1982; 55,388 subjects), and second (1992; 45,674 subjects), epidemiological surveys conducted on bronchial asthma in elementary students across 11 prefectures in western Japan. The 2 surveys were conducted in the same regions using the same methodology employing a modified Japanese version of the American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD) Epidemiology Questionnaire. We conducted the third survey in 2002, and compared the findings to those of previous studies.

Internet survey of childhood asthma and use of inhaled therapy in the home in Japan.

Background: The aim of the present study is to undertake a survey of childhood asthma and details of the use of inhaled therapy from mothers with asthmatic children
Methods: This study was done on a nationwide scale in Japan during the latter half of July 2001.

Results: Responses were obtained from 748 mothers.

The combination of nebulized sodium cromoglycate and salbutamol in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma in children.

The aim of this multi-centre prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the combination of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) and salbutamol (administered as a nebulized solution), compared to SCG alone and salbutamol alone, in the management of severe, intractable asthma in childhood. The study was an open, randomized, cross-over trial of 12 weeks' duration in children with moderate-to-severe intractable asthma. All treatments were administered twice daily by powered nebulizer.

[The effectiveness of the long-term treatment with pranlukast in pediatric patients with mild to moderate asthma].

To investigate the efficacy of the long-term treatment with pranlukast, a specific cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, in pediatric patients with mild to moderate asthma, 77 pediatric asthmatic patients who received pranlukast for up to 36 months (mean duration, 13 months) were evaluated retrospectively. Treatment with pranlukast resulted in improvements from the pretreatment baseline in asthma attacks per month, episodes of hospitalization, and episodes of intravenous amynophiline treatment on emergent clinic visits. The percentage of responders who had marked or moderate improvements in the above-mentioned parameters of asthma control was 79%.