This review is a pragmatic attempt to highlight recent research and some backround reading in asthma and children. It should not be considered exhaustive, simply a way of reviewing some of the major developments and current thinking in the area.
Click here to see all the TRIP Evidence Reviews.
Evidence-Based Reports
- Asthma and Other Wheezing Disorders in Children. Clinical Evidence, 2004
- Beta-agonists with or without anti-cholinergics in the treatment of acute childhood asthma? BestBETS, 2006
- Delivery of bronchodilators in acute asthma in children. BestBETS, 2006
- Inhaled corticosteroids: children are at risk from high doses. MeReC, 2007
- Use of x-rays in asthma. Paediatric Evidence Centre, 2006
- Breath-a-tech vs Volumatic spacers. Paediatric Evidence Centre, 2006
- Increased Doses of Inhaled Steroids During an Asthma Exacerbation Show No Benefit. Evidence-Based Pediatrics, 2005
- Nebulized Magnesium Improves FEV1 in Mild to Moderate Asthma Exacerbations. Evidence-Based Pediatrics, 2005
- Heliox May Prevent Hospital Admission for Asthma. Evidence-Based Pediatrics, 2006
- Influenza Vaccine Efficacious Even for Asthmatic Children on Steroid Burst. Evidence-Based Pediatrics, 2006
Clinical Guidelines
- Management of persistent asthma in infants and children 5 years of age and younger. Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium, 2006
- Management of Acute Asthma in Children. Towards Optimised Practice, 2007
- Pediatric asthma clinical practice guidelines. Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, 2006
- Management of Asthma in Children aged 1-15 years. New Zealand Guidelines Group, 2005
- Asthma. PRODIGY, 2007
- Asthma Exemplar, National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, 2004
- Long-acting beta2-agonists for chronic asthma in adults and children where background therapy contains varied or no inhaled corticosteroid. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2007
- Asthma Attack - Targeting Emergency Asthma Contacts in Children. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, 2006
- A systematic review to examine the impact of psycho-educational interventions on health outcomes and costs in adults and children with difficult asthma. NCCHTA, 2005
- Family therapy for chronic asthma in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Psychological interventions for children with asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Long-acting beta2-agonists as an inhaled corticosteroid-sparing agent for chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Fluticasone at different doses for chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Intravenous aminophylline for acute severe asthma in children over two years receiving inhaled bronchodilators. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Oral xanthines as maintenance treatment for asthma in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Written action plans for asthma in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006
- Inhaled corticosteroids versus sodium cromoglycate in children and adults with asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006
- Nedocromil sodium for chronic asthma in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006
- Anti-IgE for chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006
- Cost-effectiveness of early intervention with once-daily budesonide in children with mild persistent asthma: results from the START study. NHS EED, 2006
Recent articles in core journals
- Long-term comparison of 3 controller regimens for mild-moderate persistent childhood asthma: The Pediatric Asthma Controller Trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2007
- Internet-based home monitoring and education of children with asthma is comparable to ideal office-based care: results of a 1-year asthma in-home monitoring trial. Pediatrics, 2007
- Short-course montelukast for intermittent asthma in children: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2007
- Effectiveness of nebulizer use-targeted asthma education on underserved children with asthma. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2006
- Effects of treatment with mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler in children with persistent asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2006
- Improved asthma outcomes in a high-morbidity pediatric population: results of an emergency department-based randomized clinical trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2006
- An interdisciplinary intervention for undertreated pediatric asthma. Chest, 2006
- A randomized, controlled trial of an interactive educational computer package for children with asthma. Pediatrics, 2006
- A randomized clinical trial of clinician feedback to improve quality of care for inner-city children with asthma. Pediatrics, 2006
- Once-daily ciclesonide in children: efficacy and safety in asthma. J Pediatr, 2006
- Does antibiotic exposure during infancy lead to development of asthma?: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Chest, 2006
- Oral montelukast treatment of preschool-aged children with acute asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2006
- Budesonide/Formoterol Maintenance Plus Reliever Therapy: A New Strategy in Pediatric Asthma. Chest, 2006
- Long-term inhaled corticosteroids in preschool children at high risk for asthma. NEJM, 2006
- Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet, 2006
- Prevention of asthma during the first 5 years of life: a randomized controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2006
- Efficacy and safety of inhaled fluticasone propionate chlorofluorocarbon in 2- to 4-year-old patients with asthma: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2006
- Linear growth in prepubertal asthmatic children treated with montelukast, beclomethasone, or placebo: a 56-week randomized double-blind study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2006
eTextbooks
Clinical Queries
- Are overweight or obese children who wheeze more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than non-obese children? NLH Q&A Service, 2006 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
- What is the optimum dose and duration of treatment with oral steroids for an acute exacerbation of asthma in an otherwise healthy adult / child? NLH Q&A Service, 2007
- Is it reasonable to advise short-term use of ibuprofen in feverish children with h/o of asthma? NLH Q&A Service, 2006 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
- Parents often suggest that sleeping in damp bedrooms or living in damp housing causes or exacerbates their child's asthma. Is there any evidence that this is true? NLH Q&A Service, 2006
- Is there any evidence to suggest a link between paracetamol and asthma or wheezing in children or paracetamol taken in pregnancy and wheezing? NLH Q&A Service, 2005 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
Patient Information
- BUPA Health Information
- Better Health Channel
- eMedicine Consumer Health
- Family Doctor
- NHS Direct
- Inhaler Technique. Builth Surgery (YouTube, online video)
- Spacer Devices part 1. Builth Surgery (YouTube, online video)
- Spacer Devices part 2. Builth Surgery (YouTube, online video)
