From the leading authority on children's health comes an invaluable resource for parents and caregivers trying to cope with the challenges of childhood asthma and allergies. This guide has been updated to reflect new research and recommendations, including new guidelines for monitoring asthma from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as well as the latest information on the treatment of allergies, specifically food allergies. Topics such as identifying allergies and asthma, preventing attacks, minimizing triggers and avoiding allergens, choosing medications wisely, and explaining allergies to young children are covered in detail. Also providing guidance on medications, recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician's office, and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms, this reference helps families deal with the most common chronic childhood diseases of asthma and allergies.