RESUMEN
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by bronchial obstruction, usually reversible spontaneously or after therapy, bronchial hyperreactivity and accelerated decrease of lung function that may possibly evolve into irreversible obstruction of the respiratory tract. Bronchial provocation tests can be used in order to assess the presence and degree of bronchial hyper reactivity. The recently introduced mannitol powder inhalation indirect test seems to have an interesting and promising role, especially in childhood, because of its high diagnostic specificity, easiness of execution and best standardization. In this study the authors focused on the significance and clinical use of mannitol bronchial challenge test in asthmatic children.
RESUMEN
ß2-agonists reduce airflow limitation by improving airway diameter as a consequence of a direct action on airway smooth muscle. ß;2-agonists can be broadly classified according to their duration of action: short-acting ß2-agonists (SABAs), including albuterol, terbutaline and fenoterol, have pharmacodynamics halflives between 2 and 6 h and long-acting ß2-agonists (LABAs), including salmeterol and formoterol, require twice daily treatment. SABAs are often used as needed for asthma exacerbations and before exercise in the presence of exercise-induced bronchospasm. LABAs provide longer symptom control, which is a particularly useful feature for preventing night-time symptoms. There are two main LABAs, salmeterol and formoterol. This review focused on the recent data published on this topic.