Workshop on InterAirways
28 February - 1 March 2007
San Diego, USA
InterAirways is a new project initiated by WHO to study diseases of the upper and lower airways and the way in which these diseases interact. Examples of such diseases include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). The goal of this workshop is to review the common characteristics and interaction of such diseases, and to develop a global document on an integrated approach of how to prevent, diagnose and control diseases of the upper and lower airways - especially in low and middle-income countries.
Despite the fact that knowledge in the analysis of each of these respiratory problems has advanced considerably, a gap still remains between this knowledge and concrete action to prevent and control these inter-related diseases. Health professionals in the field of respiratory diseases will discuss during this workshop ways to address this imbalance.
Diseases of the upper and lower airways, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), occupational pulmonary diseases and chronic rhinitis/rhino-sinusitis, are among the most common chronic airway diseases worldwide resulting in an enormous burden to individuals, families and societies.