The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
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To evaluate the impact of uncontrolled asthma on the absenteeism and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults and children with asthma and the caregivers of pediatric patients. ⋯ Uncontrolled asthma has far-reaching impact on the productivity and quality of life of asthma patients and their caregivers. Proper assessment, treatment, and disease management to improve asthma control may reduce the impact of uncontrolled asthma on asthmatic adults, children, and the caretakers of pediatric asthmatic patients.
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The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute asthma guidelines recommend that parents communicate with a clinician during childhood asthma exacerbations when symptoms worsen or do not improve with initial therapy. This study tested the hypothesis that communication by parents with a clinician before an Emergency Department visit was associated with more appropriate medication administration for children with asthma exacerbations. ⋯ Parents of children with asthma exacerbations who communicated with clinicians were more likely to administer SABAs and an oral corticosteroid before bringing their child to an emergency department. Frequency of SABA dosing was not associated with communication. Clinicians providing telephone advice to parents need to provide explicit instructions about medication administration, emphasizing the frequency with which SABAs should be administered.
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Meta Analysis
Polymorphism of the ADRB2 gene and response to inhaled beta- agonists in children with asthma: a meta-analysis.
About 9% of children have asthma, corresponding to almost 6.8 million children in the USA and 1.1 million in the UK. Asthma exacerbations are the leading cause of pediatric emergency room visits and impose a large burden on the individual, family, and society. There is mounting evidence that therapeutic failure of inhaled beta-agonists is associated with polymorphisms of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2); specifically, mutations leading to amino acid changes at positions 16 and 27, which alter down-regulation of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR), induce resistance to the smooth-muscle relaxing effect of beta(2)-adrenergic agonists. ⋯ Failure of bronchodilator response to inhaled beta-agonists in asthmatic children is associated with the Gly allele (Arg/Gly and Gly/Gly genotypes) at position 16 of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. Genetic typing for beta(2)AR polymorphism may help identify children with drug-resistant asthma.
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While initial education and regular evaluation of inhaler technique in patients are emphasized in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, health care professionals are not experienced in using inhalers. This study assessed whether internal medicine residents used common inhalers correctly and whether a single teaching session successfully improved their performance. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that a high proportion of internal medicine residents cannot use inhalers correctly and just a single teaching can effectively enhance their inhaler technique.
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Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of an acute exacerbation of asthma. We describe a 28-year-old female who was admitted to hospital with acute severe exacerbation of asthma and developed a spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) with associated subcutaneous emphysema. ⋯ SPM although usually a self-limiting condition, can occasionally be life threatening. Therefore, it is important to raise the awareness of this potential complication of asthma.