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Paediatric Asthma. Maria Tracey Paediatric Pharmacist Jane Davis Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist CF/Respiratory Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley. Objectives. Explain the stepwise approach to the treatment of chronic asthma in children
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Paediatric Asthma Maria Tracey Paediatric Pharmacist Jane Davis Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist CF/Respiratory Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley
Objectives • Explain the stepwise approach to the treatment of chronic asthma in children • Demonstrate the choice of inhaler devices used in children • Demonstrate multidosing
Statistics • 5.2 million people in UK (390,000 people in Scotland) • 1.1 million children(100,000 in Scotland 1 in 9 of the total population are children)
What is Asthma? Asthma is a condition of the airways wherethere is difficulty in breathing due to Inflammation Swelling Excess mucus • Or a combination of all three
Asthma Triggers • Infections (eg colds and viruses) • House-dust mite • Pets (furred / feathered) • Second hand smoke • Exercise • Pollens/moulds
How Does Asthma Feel? “Being strangled without the hands around your neck” “It feels like someone has put a ten-ton stack of bricks on your chest” “You take a huge bucket of air but can only take a spoonful down”
Night cough, disturbed nights Restriction in activity / exercise Increased school absences Ongoing symptoms may have a detrimental effect on physical, psychological and social well-being The Impact of Asthma
Asthma Medications • Relievers • Preventers • Additional Treatments
Overview: Inhaler devices • pMDI + spacer is preferred delivery method in children aged 0-5 years • pMDI + spacer is as effective as other delivery methods for other age groups • Choice of inhaler should be based on patient preference and ability to use Inhaler devices. Thorax 2003; 58 (Suppl I): i1-i92
Multidosing • Multiple puffs(up to 10) of a short-acting ß2 agonist via a spacer device is as effective as nebulised • Children(and adults) with mild and moderate exacerbation of asthma should be treated by bronchodilator given from a pMDI + spacer with doses titrated according to clinical response
Summary: Paediatric asthma • Inhaled steroids are the recommended preventer drug • In children >5 years, add inhaled long acting ß2 agonists rather than increasing the dose of inhaled steroids above 400mcg/day • pMDI + spacer is preferred delivery method in children aged0-5 years, and as effective as other delivery methods for other age groups
References • www.Asthma.Org.Uk Tel 02077865000 • British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate guidelines Network (2008) British Guideline on the Management of Asthma Thorax (63) Supplement 1V