Asthma in children

Summary of changes

Addition: Physical examination added to diagnosis

Medicines

  • Added puffer and spacer option to treatment for severe asthma (as per Asthma Handbook)
  • For infrequent intermittent asthma - added low dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment for wheeze for children under 6
  • For frequent intermittent asthma - made low dose inhaled corticosteroid first line then montelukast (previously other way around)

Other

  • Children over 12 directed to adult protocol
  • Emphasis on lung function test if over 6 years

Primary references

  1. British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2019) British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN) British Guideline on the management of asthma, Quality improvement, accessed 22 October 2021.

  2. Cloutier MM, Dixon AE, Krishnan JA, Lemanske RF Jr, Pace W and Schatz M (2020) 'Managing Asthma in Adolescents and Adults: 2020 Asthma Guideline Update From the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program', Journal of the American Medical Association, 324(22):2301-2317, doi:10.1001/jama.2020.21974

  3. Collaro AJ, Chang AB, Marchant JM, Masters IB, Rodwell LT, Takken AJ and McElrea MS (2020) 'Culturally Appropriate Outreach Specialist Respiratory Medical Care Improves the Lung Function of Children in Regional and Remote Queensland', Lung, 198(2):361-369, doi:10.1007/s00408-020-00332-7

  4. Global Initiative for Asthma (2021) Global strategy for asthma management and prevention, accessed 11 October 2021.

  5. National Asthma Council Australia (2020) Asthma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australian Asthma Handbook, accessed 11 October 2021.

  6. National Asthma Council Australia (2020) Managing asthma in children, Australian Asthma Handbook, accessed 4 October 2022.