Symbicort: controlling asthma in children

Asthma is now widely recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that requires early pharmacological treatment and long-term management. Anti-inflammatory agents, particularly inhaled corticosteroids, are currently the most effective long-term preventative medication. Moreover, early intervention with inhaled corticosteroids plays an important role in airway remodelling. Despite significant advances in the understanding of asthma and its pharmacological management, the prevalence of asthma in children, teenagers and young adults is on the increase. For patients whose asthma is not fully controlled with daily inhaled corticosteroid therapy, national guidelines advocate the addition of long-acting inhaled beta2-agonist therapy, rather than an increase in dose of inhaled corticosteroids, for the treatment of persistent childhood asthma. However, adherence to treatment with asthma medication declines as the regimen becomes more complicated. Adherence to therapy and therapy convenience are key to the successful pharmacological management of asthma, particularly in children. The administration of prescribed medication via a single inhaler offers a convenient treatment regimen that has the potential to improve adherence to treatment. This paper presents data to show that the combined administration of budesonide and formoterol via a single inhaler (Symbicort Turbuhaler) is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of asthma in children.