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Special considerations—asthma in children
Author(s) -
Jassal Mandeep S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.21577
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , bronchodilator , intensive care medicine , disease , psychosocial , pediatrics , clinical trial , randomized controlled trial , pulmonary function testing , physical therapy , immunology , psychiatry
Background Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Management of pediatric asthma requires an understanding of the issues that uniquely effect children. This review provides the reader with the current state and future directions of pediatric asthma. Methods Review of the pediatric asthma literature was undertaken with emphasis on randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Results The prevalence of pediatric asthma remains elevated and is increasingly being appreciated in select global regions. Effective treatment in any setting begins with a focused medical history that queries key asthma features that inform both diagnostic and monitoring strategies. A thorough medical history may yield comorbid upper airway disorders and allergic triggers that could potentially exacerbate airway inflammation. Pre‐bronchodilator and post‐bronchodilator lung function testing is a preferable diagnostic strategy to quantitatively assess obstructive pulmonary disease among children capable of performing the testing maneuvers. Pediatric asthmatics who continue to have poor disease control require monitoring of medication adherence and drug delivery techniques, because both are often linked with disease outcomes. Therapeutic strategies in children are notably distinct from adults due to the possible effects of inhaled corticosteroids on reduced bone mineral density and growth. Adolescents may also require more time to address the psychosocial complexities that may complicate the required daily usage of asthma medicines. Conclusion Asthmatic children are distinct from their adult counterparts due to limitations inherent in the pediatric age group. A unified and evidence‐based approach to pediatric asthma may improve clinical outcomes.