Challenges in the treatment of asthma in children and adolescents

Publication date: April 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Volume 120, Issue 4
Author(s): Stanley J. Szefler, Bradley Chipps
ObjectiveDespite the availability of effective treatments, asthma control in children and adolescents remains inadequate and rates of health care use are high. This follow-up to a recent review (O'Byrne et al, Eur Respir J. 2017;50[3]) examines a number of challenges in current pediatric asthma management compared with that of an adult perspective and discusses possible alternative strategies that might improve pediatric asthma management and control.Data SourcesThe evidence base for this review is limited because, historically, much of the research has been performed in adults.Study SelectionsNot applicable.ResultsPediatric asthma management is complicated by variability in asthma severity and control and difficulty in measuring pulmonary function and airway inflammation. Current challenges in pediatric asthma management include the recommended initial therapy treating only the symptoms rather than the underlying inflammation and switching to controller therapy only when asthma subsequently worsens.ConclusionAlternative strategies that might improve pediatric asthma management and control include replacement of short-acting β2-agonist relievers by an inhaled corticosteroid plus a fast-acting β2-agonist (short-acting β2-agonist or fast- and long-acting β2-agonist) combination at Global Initiative for Asthma step 1 or 2 to ensure that patients receive an inhaled corticosteroid whenever they feel the need for symptomatic relief. Such an approach could eliminate the problem of learned overuse or over-reliance on short-acting β2-agonist reliever medication and address the other challenges in current pediatric asthma management. Clinical studies in pediatric patients or large studies involving a proportion of pediatric patients are required to provide the supporting evidence needed to help advance such new approaches and improve asthma control from a pediatric perspective.



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