Abstract
Background: Pediatric asthma remains a critical public health problem,
particularly in Japan, where adherence to new treatment guidelines and
effective medication use are inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to
evaluate the current management practices for pediatric asthma to
identify areas for improvement and enhance future treatment approaches.
Methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey involving
caregivers of children and adolescents aged 0–19 years diagnosed with
asthma at various medical institutions in Japan. The survey focused
primarily on evaluating the control status of asthma in these patients
and examining factors such as treatment adherence, environmental
exposure, and the presence of allergic diseases. Results: The data
showed that 65.9% of the patients received some form of asthma
treatment; however, a significant proportion (26.2%) still experienced
poor symptom control (n=2000). The most affected group were children
aged 0–3 years. The analysis showed that environmental factors and
coexisting allergic diseases notably influenced poor asthma control,
although direct correlations with treatment adherence were not
statistically significant. Conclusion: These findings highlight the
substantial gap in the effective management of pediatric asthma,
particularly in very young children. Notably, pharmacotherapy is
essential; however, there is an urgent need to develop comprehensive
treatment plans that address environmental and lifestyle factors. Future
strategies should focus on personalized care tailored to each child’s
specific need, incorporating medical and non-medical interventions to
optimize asthma control and improve overall health outcomes.