Publisher's Synopsis
Asthma affects an estimated 300 million individuals worldwide. It is a serious global health problem affecting all age groups, with increasing prevalence in many developing countries, rising treatment costs, and a rising burden for patients and the community. Asthma still imposes an unacceptable burden on health care systems, and on society through loss of productivity in the workplace and, especially for pediatric asthma, disruption to the family, and it still contributes to many deaths worldwide, including amongst young people. Health care providers managing asthma face different issues around the world, depending on the local context, the health system, and access to resources.