BALLOON (Corticosteroid/laBA inhaLers in adoLescents' Asthma: Assessment Of Patients satisfactiON) Study

Childhood and adolescents' asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and is the major cause of absenteeism from school students. To deal with the disease often require hospitalization, fortunately, very rare enough to be life-threatening. Since the mid-80s had clearly expressed by several centers to observe the rising incidence of the disease. The next year observation was confirmed many times. Childhood asthma has been characterized as a disease of modern Western civilization. It affects a large proportion of the child population and seems to take longer epidemic character.

From studies carried out recently in Greece found that children of school age asthmatic type symptoms during the past 12 months appear to 5-10% of pupils. The rates are doubled when the question is not limited to the last 12 months. Also in a study involving 2133 children aged 7 and 18 years, the prevalence of asthma was 7.7% and 4.7% (at the age of 7 and 18 years respectively) and chronic asthma 19.6% and 26.3% (at the age of 7 and 18 years, respectively), while over half of the children (58.2%) with early asthma (asthma diagnosed before age 7) had no symptoms at the age of 7. At the age of 18 still had symptoms for 7.6% of children with early asthma and 48.2% of children who developed asthma between 7-18 years (6.7% of study participants).

For the onset of childhood asthma synergize two factors: genetic, ie heredity, and environmental, that is the environment in which we live. There is a predisposition for the disease and the environment favors the onset. So to increase the prevalence implicated: a) genetic predisposition, b) the method of construction of houses, c) smoking (assets - liabilities), c) indoor pollution, d) atmospheric pollution, e) the modern way of eating and clothing and f) preventing illness by a large number of serious infections due to the widespread use of vaccines.Most asthma medications are administered using suitable inhalers. There are various types of devices that facilitate the administration of inhaled medications in young children. The correct use of inhalational devices is very important for the treatment of asthma. If the patient does not understand the instructions, the drug is deposited satisfactorily lungs, ie organ must act, so there is no remission.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with history of asthma or newly diagnosed
• Patient who are on their inhalation device treatment at least one month before study enrolment
• Patients Male and Female
• Patients' Age: 12-18 years
• Patients who are familiar with their inhalation device
• Patients with correct use of any individual inhalation device
• Patients who will follow all study procedures
• Patients who agree to record their evaluation in written by filling in the FSI-10 questionnaire

Exclusion criteria

• Patient who are on their inhalation device treatment less than one month before study enrolment
• Patients' Age: <12, >18 years
• Patients with incorrect use of any individual inhalation device
• Patients with no sufficient treatment compliance
• Patients with no sufficient study procedures' compliance
• Patients who do not agree to record their evaluation in written by filling in the FSI-10 questionnaire