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Asthma Management in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Timothy Klouda1, Advait Pillarisetti2, Annay Xie3
1Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic had minimal reported impact on pediatric asthma admissions. However, ongoing monitoring and innovative care models are crucial, especially in resource-poor settings, to address potential socioeconomic effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent childhood condition frequently exacerbated by respiratory viruses.
- The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns regarding its potential impact on children with asthma.
- Initial expectations suggested a negative outcome for pediatric asthma patients during the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma.
- To assess the effect on acute asthma admissions in children.
- To identify strategies for ongoing asthma care during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Review of reported effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma.
- Analysis of acute asthma admissions data during the pandemic.
- Consideration of socioeconomic factors and healthcare access.
Main Results:
- The reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma, including acute admissions, did not appear significant.
- Socioeconomic effects and reduced healthcare access pose potential risks to chronic respiratory care, particularly in resource-limited areas.
- Technology, such as telehealth and digital monitoring, is vital for asthma management.
Conclusions:
- While direct impact on admissions seems minimal, long-term follow-up is necessary.
- Adherence to international guidelines and innovative care models are essential for managing pediatric asthma during the pandemic.
- Multisectoral collaboration is required to ensure continued healthcare services for children with asthma amidst pandemic challenges.
Abstract:
Asthma is common in children and exacerbations are usually triggered by respiratory viruses. There was considerable concern about the impact of COVID-19 on children with asthma. It was expected that children with asthma would fare poorly during the pandemic. However, the reported effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric asthma including acute asthma admissions, does not appear to be significant, but this needs careful follow-up. The socioeconomic effects of the pandemic and reduced healthcare access could potentially impact on ongoing delivery of health care in chronic respiratory conditions including asthma, especially in resource-poor settings. Children with chronic asthma need to be treated as per internationally published guidelines with innovative models of disease monitoring and ongoing care during the pandemic. During the pandemic, children with acute asthma need to be managed carefully based on local guidelines and using strict infection control policies. The use of technology such as telehealth and various tools of asthma management including questionnaires and digital monitoring will play an important role in asthma management during the pandemic. Medical professionals, healthcare administrators, and governments should be sensitive to the evolving needs of the community and work closely to continue to provide services in a challenging yet unresolved pandemic.
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