Asthma-related visits by children to physician offices have more than doubled since the early 1990s — from less than forty visits per 1,000 children under age 18 in 1990 to eighty-nine visits per 1,000 in 2004, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While part of this increase is related to the rise in the number of children with asthma, it also represents a change in how asthma management is viewed. Rather than just visiting a medical office when symptoms flare up, more families are taking time to monitor their children's asthma symptoms and find ways to prevent those symptoms from occurring through medication and lifestyle changes.

This means working more closely with a health care provider year round.

There are several types of health care providers who treat asthma that you may consider for your child:

• Family physicians or general practitioners who have a broad knowledge of a host of medical conditions and are knowledgeable about asthma since it is a common condition.

• Pediatricians who specialize in the care of infants and children and are very knowledgeable about asthma.

• Allergists/immunologists who treat the allergy symptoms related to asthma.

• Pulmonologists who specialize in treating people with lung diseases, including those with severe or poorly controlled asthma.

Also, look at those individuals working alongside those physicians who play very important roles in providing and enhancing the asthma care that your child receives. These include pediatric and family practice nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physician assistants, and patient educators who can provide critical help and information to you and your child to promote successful asthma self-management.