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Updated: May 12, 2026
14:39
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Difficult-to-treat asthma in childhood
Alexandra Adams1, Sejal Saglani
1Department of Respiratory Paediatrics, The Royal Brompton Hospital London and Imperial College London, London, UK.
Paediatric Drugs
|April 12, 2013
Summary
Pediatric severe asthma requires specialist evaluation when standard treatments fail. This review guides pediatricians in investigating and managing difficult-to-treat asthma in children aged 6–16 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Asthma is a significant global healthcare burden, often manageable with standard therapies.
- A subset of children experience severe, difficult-to-treat asthma despite optimal inhaled corticosteroid and add-on treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an evidence-based guide for pediatricians managing problematic severe asthma in children aged 6–16 years.
- To outline a strategy for the investigation and management of severe pediatric asthma in secondary care settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on recent advances in asthma nomenclature.
- Development of a proposed investigation and management strategy for problematic severe asthma.
- Emphasis on differentiating true severe asthma from difficult-to-treat asthma due to modifiable factors.
Main Results:
- Highlights the critical distinction between true severe asthma and asthma masked by unaddressed factors.
- Proposes a systematic approach to identifying and managing severe pediatric asthma.
Conclusions:
- Specialist referral is crucial for children with problematic severe asthma unresponsive to maximal therapy.
- Accurate diagnosis and management are essential for improving outcomes in severe pediatric asthma.
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