A decline in asthma-related hospitalization rates has been observed in France over the past decade among adults. However, these rates have remained stable among children. Yet hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations, in both adults and children, are largely preventable. The objective of this study was to describe hospitalizations for asthma in children. The study was conducted over a one-year period in 14 hospital departments among children aged 3 years or older. Data on the history of asthma, its severity, usual treatment, asthma control in the month preceding hospitalization, and the severity of the exacerbation leading to hospitalization were collected using a standardized questionnaire. A total of 727 hospitalizations were recorded. In 27% of cases, asthma was not known at the time of hospitalization. Asthma control in the weeks preceding hospitalization was not acceptable (HAS criteria) for 48% of the 498 children with known asthma. In the past year, 64% of these children had experienced an average of at least one exacerbation per quarter, and 26% had been hospitalized at least once for acute asthma. Among children with known asthma, approximately 30% were not receiving maintenance therapy despite poor control in the past month or year. In conclusion, one-quarter of hospitalizations are related to first-time asthma attacks. Among known asthmatics, asthma treatment is inadequate, suggesting that hospitalizations could be prevented by improving overall asthma management. However, not all hospitalizations are explained by prior poor control, and other risk factors for hospitalization should be investigated. (R.A.)