Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, increasing in prevalence especially among children. Despite the development of national goals and practice guidelines, childhood morbidity and mortality associated with asthma has continued to rise at astonishing rates. Effective management of asthma in children requires both improvements in following nationally recognized guidelines and addressing barriers associated with poor control. This article identifies barriers leading to uncontrolled asthma in children. Barriers in communication, education, resources, parental concerns, and psychosocial influences have resulted in nonadherence to national guidelines. Health care professionals have the opportunity to affect asthma management by addressing these barriers and improving the quality of care for children with asthma.
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