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Pocket Guide For Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger
Pocket Guide For Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger
Pocket Guide For Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger
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Prevention in Children
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2009
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Disclaimer: Although the recommendations of this document are based on the best published
evidence, it is the responsibility of practicing physicians to consider the cost and benefit of all
treatments prescribed in young children, with due reference to recommendations and licensed
formulations, dosing, and indications for use in their country.
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GLOBAL INITIATIVE
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FOR ASTHMA
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Eric D. Bateman, M.D., South Africa, Chair Allan Becker, MD, Canada
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PREFACE .......................................................................................2
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Pollutants................................................................7
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Table 5.
Low Daily Doses of Inhaled Glucocorticosteroids for
OR
1
PREFACE
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over the past 20 years, especially in children. The Global Initiative for
world and there is evidence that its prevalence has increased considerably
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fessionals, public health authorities, and the general public, and to improve
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years of life, including difficulties with diagnosis, and efficacy and safety
of drugs and delivery systems. Approaches to these issues will vary
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maintain asthma control for most patients that can be adapted to local
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This Pocket Guide has been developed from the Global Strategy for
Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger
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2
WHAT IS KNOWN
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ABOUT ASTHMA?
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should take into account the safety of treatment, potential for adverse
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is chronically present.
For many patients, controller medication must be taken daily to prevent
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3
DIAGNOSING ASTHMA
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ma, and the younger the child, the greater the likelihood that an alterna-
those younger than 3 years. Not all young children who wheeze have asth-
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cy, and congenital heart disease) and mechanical problems (foreign body
aspiration).
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the lung function measurements that are key to diagnosis in older children
and adults are not reliable in this age group.
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Taking all of these factors into account, a diagnosis of asthma in these young
careful clinical assessment of family history and physical findings (Table 1).
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Table 1. Is It Asthma?
Consider asthma if any of the following signs or symptoms are present:
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Pollen
Respiratory (viral) infections
Strong emotional expression
Tobacco smoke
I The childs colds repeatedly go to the chest or take more than 10 days to clear up.
I Symptoms improve when asthma medication is given.
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CLASSIFICATION OF ASTHMA
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BY LEVEL OF CONTROL
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For all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma, the goal of treatment
is to achieve and maintain control of the disease. However, assessing
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childs family members and caregivers who might be unaware of the pres-
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the childs need for reliever/rescue treatment (with increased use indicating
worsening control).
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controlled asthma
in any week)
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difficult breathing typically for short periods periods on the order or hours or recur, but
of on the order of of minutes and rapidly partially or fully relieved
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bronchodilator)
of activities (child is fully active, (may cough, wheeze, (may cough, wheeze,
plays and runs without or have difficulty or have difficulty
limitation or symptoms) breathing during breathing during
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MANAGEMENT AND
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PHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT
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A partnership between the childs family/caregivers and the health care team
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Develop a Partnership
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caused by asthma, a written asthma action plan based on the levels of res-
For wheezy children 5 years and younger, when wheeze is suspected to be
.
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Identify and Reduce Exposure to Risk Factors
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toms (Table 3). However, many asthma patients react to multiple factors
should take steps to avoid the risk factors that cause their asthma symp-
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that are ubiquitous in the environment, and avoiding some of these factors
completely is nearly impossible. Thus, medications to maintain asthma
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control have an important role because patients are often less sensitive to
these risk factors when their asthma is under control.
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medication needs:
Tobacco smoke: Stay away from tobacco smoke. Parents and caregivers
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Drugs, foods, and additives: Avoid if they are known to cause symptoms.
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dry in a hot dryer or the sun. Encase pillows and mattresses in air-tight cov-
ers. Replace carpets with hard flooring, especially in sleeping rooms.
(If possible, use vacuum cleaner with filters. Use acaricides or tannic acid to
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kill mitesbut make sure the patient is not at home when the treatment
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occurs.)
Animals with fur: Use air filters. (Remove animals from the home, or at least
OR
Cockroaches: Clean the home thoroughly and often. Use pesticide spray
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but make sure the patient is not at home when spraying occurs.
Outdoor pollens and mold: Close windows and doors and remain indoors
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Indoor mold: Reduce dampness in the home; clean any damp areas fre-
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quently.
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ASSESS, TREAT, AND MONITOR ASTHMA
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men, adherence to the current regimen, and level of asthma control. Current
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impairment (day and night symptoms, activity level impairment, need for res-
cue medications) and future risk (likelihood of acute exacerbation in the
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they deliver drugs directly to the airways where they are needed, resulting
in potent therapeutic effects with fewer systemic side effects.
NO
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Information about use of various inhaler devices is found on the GINA
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Website (www.ginasthma.org).
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tion to use as needed for quick relief of symptoms. (Parents and care-
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If the childs asthma is not controlled with as-needed use of reliever med-
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This initial treatment should be given for at least 3 months to establish its
effectiveness in reaching control. If at the end of this period the low dose
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Table 4. Asthma Management Approach Based on
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on as needed on as needed
rapid-acting 2-agonists rapid- acting 2-agonists low-dose inhaled
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glucocorticosteroid*
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Controller options
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rapid-acting 2-agonists
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Leukotriene modifier
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*Oral glucocorticosteroids should be used only for treatment of acute severe exacerbations of asthma.
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Drug g)
Low Daily Dose (
Ciclesonide NS
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Mometasone furoate NS
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Triamcinolone acetonide NS
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* A low daily dose is defined as the dose which has not been associated with clinically adverse
effects in trials including measures of safety. This is not a table of clinical equivalence.
NS = Not studied in this age group.
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Monitoring to Maintain Control
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Ongoing monitoring is essential to maintain control and establish the low-
est step and dose of treatment to minimize cost and maximize safety.
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Typically, patients should be seen one to three months after the initial visit,
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the year. It is recommended that the continued need for asthma treatment
in children under age 5 should be regularly assessed (every 3-6 months). If
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nist therapy needs to be repeated more frequently than every 6-8 weeks, a
diagnostic trial of regular controller therapy should be considered to con-
firm whether the symptoms are due to asthma.
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Manage Acute Exacerbations
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attacks may be life threatening. Early symptoms may include any of the
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following:
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Home Management
NO
Observe the child and maintain a restful atmosphere for one hour or
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more
Seek medical attention the same day if inhaled bronchodilator is
OR
required for symptom relief more than every 3 hours or for more than
24 hours.
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gressively shorter
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Table 6. Initial Assessment of Acute Asthma in Children
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Severea
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Symptoms Mild
drowsy
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(SaO2)
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Pulse rate < 100 bpmd > 200 bpm (0-3 years)
> 180 bpm (4-5 years)
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been given).
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Table 7. Indications for Immediate Referral to Hospital
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Cyanosis
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Subcostal retractions
Oxygen saturation when breathing room air < 92%
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Sedatives.
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Mucolytic drugs.
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Table 8: Initial Management of Acute
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Severe Asthma in Children 5 Years and Younger*
2-agonist
Short-acting 2 puffs salbutamol by spacer,
or
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Oral prednisolone
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Intravenous methylprednisolone
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Oral 2-agonists
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No
Long-acting 2-agonist
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No
a If inhalation is not possible an intravenous bolus of 5 g/kg given over 5 minutes, followed by
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Follow up:
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NOTES GH
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The Global Initiative for Asthma is supported by educational grants from:
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