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Childhood asthma: a guide for pediatric emergency medicine providers

Sarah Kline-Krammes1, Nirali H Patel, Shawn Robinson

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Akron Children's Hospital, 1 Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA.

Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|August 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This summary explains pediatric asthma management in the emergency department (ED). It covers assessment tools, core treatments like short-acting beta-agonists, and when to use advanced interventions for acute asthma attacks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pediatric asthma requires multidisciplinary care, involving outpatient, hospitalist, critical care, and emergency department (ED) physicians.
  • Effective management of acute pediatric asthma exacerbations in the ED is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline key considerations for managing pediatric asthma exacerbations in the emergency department.
  • To highlight the role of scoring systems, standard therapies, and advanced interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current therapeutic guidelines for pediatric asthma.
  • Discussion of assessment tools and indications for escalation of care.
  • Emphasis on discharge planning and patient education.

Main Results:

  • Short-acting beta agonists, corticosteroids, and ipratropium bromide remain primary treatments for acute asthma exacerbations.
  • Scoring systems can aid rapid patient assessment in the ED.
  • Clear indications for noninvasive ventilation and intubation are essential.

Conclusions:

  • Most pediatric asthma exacerbations can be successfully treated and patients discharged from the ED.
  • Comprehensive discharge plans with educational materials are vital for preventing future acute incidents and improving home management.

Keywords:
AsthmaAsthma exacerbationEmergency departmentPediatricsTreatment and management

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