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Obstructive lung disease from conception to old age: differences in the treatment of adults and children with asthma

Paul M O'Byrne1

  • 1Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. obyrnep@mcmaster.ca

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective asthma treatment for children and adults. However, combination inhalers may be less effective in children for controlling asthma and preventing exacerbations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Asthma control is the primary goal of asthma management.
  • Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective asthma treatment for both children and adults.
  • Leukotriene inhibitors see wider use in pediatric populations compared to adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effectiveness of asthma management strategies in children and adults.
  • To investigate potential reasons for differential medication use in pediatric asthma.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of combination inhalers in pediatric asthma control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current asthma management guidelines and clinical evidence.
  • Comparative analysis of treatment outcomes between pediatric and adult asthma patients.
  • Exploration of factors influencing medication choices in children, including triggers and parental concerns.

Main Results:

  • Inhaled corticosteroids demonstrate comparable efficacy in adults and school-aged children.
  • Leukotriene inhibitors are more frequently prescribed for children, potentially due to specific triggers or parental preferences.
  • Combination inhalers (ICS/LABA) may show reduced effectiveness in improving pediatric asthma control and exacerbation reduction compared to adults.

Conclusions:

  • Inhaled corticosteroids remain a cornerstone treatment for pediatric and adult asthma.
  • Understanding pediatric-specific asthma triggers and parental concerns is crucial for effective management.
  • Further research is needed to optimize combination inhaler therapy for children to ensure comparable benefits to adults.

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