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[Evidence-based management of acute asthma exacerbation in children]
Li-Chi Chiang1, Tzu-Ning Wen, Chiung-Hsi Tien
1School of Nursing, National Defence Medical Center.
Insights
This review highlights current guidelines for managing childhood asthma exacerbations in Taiwan. Early assessment and treatment with short-acting β-agonists and corticosteroids are key to preventing emergency visits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
Context:
- Childhood asthma is prevalent in Taiwan.
- Acute asthma exacerbations cause significant parental and clinical concern.
- Effective management is crucial to prevent emergency care utilization.
Purpose:
- To review current best practices for assessing and managing acute asthma exacerbations in children.
- To synthesize information from leading asthma guidelines.
- To identify gaps in current research, particularly in nursing roles.
Summary:
- Current guidelines emphasize sensitive assessment tools and early intervention for acute pediatric asthma.
- Short-acting β-agonists combined with systemic corticosteroids are the primary pharmaceutical approach.
- Parental education on medication use is vital for reducing relapses and emergency visits.
Impact:
- Provides an up-to-date resource for healthcare providers managing pediatric asthma exacerbations.
- Underscores the importance of early treatment and parental education.
- Highlights the need for further research into nursing interventions in pediatric asthma care.
Abstract:
Asthma is a common chronic disease among children in Taiwan. Acute asthma exacerbation is a cause of strong concern for children and parents and represents a challenge for pediatric healthcare providers. This review summarizes the most up-to-date information on assessing and managing acute asthma exacerbations in children. The latest guidelines (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, Expert Panel Report 3, 2007 and the Global Initiative for Asthma, 2010) recommend using sensitive instruments to assess asthma exacerbation severity and administering early treatment in order to avoid emergency outpatient visits and hospitalizations. SABA (short acting β-agonist) in combination with systematic cortisone is the most widely prescribed pharmaceutical intervention for acute asthma management. Other pediatric asthma medications are still in the trial stage. Educating parents on self-management techniques, especially with regard to the correct application of asthma medication on children, is crucial to reducing relapse incidents and visits to the emergency ward. Nursing studies addressing the issue of asthma exacerbation in children and parents are currently at the initial, qualitative stage. More evidence-based studies are necessary to explore and understand the independent role and function of nurses in acute pediatric asthma care.
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