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Origins and treatment of airway inflammation in childhood asthma
Author(s) -
Lemanske Robert F.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.2002
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , atopy , immunology , inflammation , airway , respiratory disease , pathophysiology of asthma , respiratory tract , leukotriene , respiratory tract infections , respiratory system , lung , surgery
Several early events and risk factors are associated with the development of childhood asthma. Two significant risk factors are viral lower respiratory tract infections and atopy. Studies suggest that imbalances in T H 1/T H 2 cytokine responses in relationship to viral infections may play a role in the development of the childhood asthmatic phenotype. Airway inflammation is now recognized to contribute to the inception, persistence, and severity of asthmatic symptoms. The majority of information pertaining to airway inflammation in asthma has been derived from adult studies, but recent evaluations have been done in children. Available data are inconclusive as to the right medication to be used at the inception and during the evolution of the asthmatic phenotype in children. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS( are not consistently effective in young children for a variety of reasons, including underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms that are unresponsive to the pharmacologic properties of ICS. The leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs), recently approved for children as young as 2 years of age, address the relationship between leukotriene production and airway inflammation or remodeling in asthma. Therapeutic trials using LTRAs in children should prove beneficial. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; Supplement 21:17–25. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.