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Minerva Pediatrica 2004 October;56(5):457-68

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Pharmacologic therapy for the treatment of asthma in children

Waikart L., Blaiss M. S.

Asthma in children results in a large negative global impact and its recent increase in prevalence demands an aggressive and comprehensive treatment program. Recently there has been increasing global cooperation for developing more standardized treatment plans to address this complex disease. Advances in our knowledge of the exact mechanisms of this disease continue to lead to better pharmacologic treatment options. A variety of medications are currently available for the treatment of both acute and chronic asthma symptoms. The importance of controller medications that affect the underlying inflammatory process has been emphasized in the most recent treatment recommendations. The initial choice of medications for asthma treatment is frequently based on the severity classification of the asthma symptoms. Severity classifications include mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Guidelines for treatment options for each of these severity classifications are available which incorporate appropriate flexibility for such a dynamic disease. These guidelines are based on evidence of effectiveness, relative safety, and other factors. This article reviews many of these medications, their actions, side effects, relative efficacy, and their indications for pediatric asthma treatment.