MILWAUKEE (AAAAI) -- In order to provide timely information on priority asthma topics, the online version of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) will feature free access to the full text of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program's (NAEPP's) Expert Panel Report: Guideline's for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - Update on Selected Topics 2002. The Guidelines are also available as a supplement in the November JACI, funded by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The JACI is the peer-reviewed journal of the AAAAI.

The NAEPP was initiated in 1989 by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to address the growing problem of asthma in the United States. The NAEPP convened expert panels in order to help health care professionals bridge the gap between current knowledge and practice. Originally released in 1991 and completely updated in 1997, the NAEPP Expert Panel Report Guidelines focus on specific questions that are of important interest for healthcare providers caring for patients with asthma.

The 2002 updated guidelines present recommendations for the management of asthma that will help clinicians and patients make appropriate decisions about asthma care on the following topics:
1) Effectiveness and safety of medications
2) Monitoring of asthma management action plans
3) Prevention - effects of early treatment on the progression of asthma

The 2002 guidelines serve as a valuable tool to educate healthcare professionals, patients and the general public about the proper diagnosis and management of the disease. The ultimate goal of the NAEPP is to improve asthma care and the quality of life for every patient with asthma and their families.

Expert Panel Report: Guideline's for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - Update on Selected Topics 2002 can be accessed for free on the JACI website through www.aaaai.org, then clicking on the Members icon.