Pediatric pulmonology. Supplement
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International guidelines indicate that the primary goals of asthma treatment are minimizing symptoms and preventing exacerbations. Symptoms last for short periods of time (minutes or hours) and usually disappear either spontaneously or with the use of bronchodilator therapy. Exacerbations last for 1 or more days and need more extensive bronchodilator therapy with the possible addition of a course of oral corticosteroids. ⋯ Two recent studies in adults revealed addition of salmeterol superior to increasing inhaled corticosteroid dose. So far, no data in children are available, but theoretically it might be attractive to add a long-acting beta 2-agonist to on-going therapy for children who remain symptomatic, especially at nighttime, despite the use of inhaled corticosteroids. There is no place for the use of long-acting beta 2-agonists as monotherapy in pediatric patients.