Asthma is a serious, chronic illness among U.S. children. Approximately 6% of all children under 18 years of age in the United States suffer from asthma--prevalence rates in our inner cities are even higher. The impact this disease has on children, their families, and society is profound and easily translatable into loss of time at work and school, a concomitant loss of productivity, and added stress to an already overburdened health care system. Recognizing the significance of asthma as a serious public health problem, Healthy People 2000 has targeted improvements in asthma care as one of its objectives and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has research and education programs to improve the health of our children with asthma.