Guidelines for the management of asthma in adults.

Earlier this year the British Thoracic Society, combined with the Royal College of Physicians, the King's Fund, and the National Asthma Campaign, brought together 34 participants, received 357 answered questionnaires, and took the views of an open debate at the society's meeting before producing guidelines on the management of asthma.Despite this parentage-for multiple authors often seem to produce an excess of muddled words-the guidelines are clear, relevant, and practical (though not brief).They deserve careful consideraton from all those who care for patients with asthma.The first part, the management of chronic asthma, appeared last week (p 651).The second part, on acute severe asthma, is