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Management and treatment of pediatric asthma: update
1Pediatrics and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Chief, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Insights
New asthma controller medications, including leukotriene receptor antagonists and inhaled corticosteroids, are now available for children under 4 years old. This addresses a critical treatment gap for early-onset pediatric asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Asthma pathogenesis and treatment knowledge primarily derived from adult studies.
- Pediatric asthma research has increased, showing similarities in airway inflammation and treatment with adults.
- A significant treatment gap existed for children under 4, despite 80% of asthma cases starting before age 5.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recently FDA-approved asthma controller medications for young children.
- To focus on leukotriene receptor antagonists and inhaled corticosteroids for pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent FDA approvals for pediatric asthma medications.
- Focus on leukotriene receptor antagonists and inhaled corticosteroids.
Main Results:
- Two key asthma controller medication classes are now approved for children under 4.
- These approvals address a previously unmet need in early pediatric asthma management.
Conclusions:
- Recent FDA approvals have expanded treatment options for early-onset pediatric asthma.
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists and inhaled corticosteroids are now viable options for children under 4.
Abstract:
Much of what we know about the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma has been learned from adult studies. Recently, a dramatic shift toward the pediatric age group has occurred in both of these areas. Such studies in children have overall supported similarities with the adult population with regard to pathogenesis (airway inflammation) and treatment (anti-inflammatory controller medications). However, the onset of asthma symptoms in less than 5 years is 80% of the time, yet controller medications approved for children under 4 years of age have generally not been available. This treatment gap was recently filled by the FDA approval of two important asthma controller medications. This review will focus on the use of leukotriene receptor antagonists and inhaled corticosteroids, which were recently approved for use in asthmatic children under 4 years of age.