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Asthma Management
- See Also
- Asthma
- Asthma Evaluation
- Asthma Education
- Asthma Exacerbation Home Management
- Emergency Management of Asthma Exacerbation
- Asthma Inpatient Management
- Status Asthmaticus
- Management: Strategy
- Written action plan
- Based on symptoms or peak expiratory flow
- Long term use of Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Decrease airway inflammation
- Most effective medication for long-term control
- Intermittent and cautious use of Inhaled Beta Agonist
- Avoid more than 4 times per day
- Treat other possible confounding factors
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Chronic Sinusitis
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Prevent Exercise-induced and cold-induced Asthma
- Consider sodium cromoglycate
- Management: Grouping (NIH recommendations)
- Mild Intermittent Asthma
- Occasional exacerbations (Less than twice per week)
- Mild Persistent Asthma
- Frequent exacerbations (>twice weekly, but not daily)
- Moderate Persistent Asthma
- Daily symptoms with daily Beta Agonist use
- Severe Persistent Asthma
- Continuous Symptoms and frequent exacerbations
- Management: Available Medications
- All aerosolized inhalers should be used with a spacer
- Without a spacer, medication delivery is inadequate
- See Spacer Devices for Asthma Inhalers
- Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Most important agents in reactive airway disease
- Should be first-line agent in all persistent Asthma
- Maximize steroid dose before adding other agents
- Ducharme (2002) BMJ 324:1545
- Mast Cell Stabilizers
- Agents
- Cromolyn Sodium (Intal)
- Nedocromil (Tilade)
- Indications
- Alternative antiinflammatory drug for age <5 years
- Prophylactic agent for
- Exercise induced Asthma
- Cold-air-induced bronchial Asthma
- Beta Adrenergic Agonist
- Short acting Rescue Inhaler (e.g. Albuterol)
- Long acting scheduled inhaler (e.g. Serevent)
- Indicated for moderate to severe Asthma
- Use as adjunct to Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Anticholinergics: Ipratropium Bromide (Atrovent)
- Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (e.g. Montelukast)
- Indicated as adjunct for moderate to severe Asthma
- Do not use as a first line agent in most cases
- Exception: Preschool children with Allergic Asthma
- Straub (2005) Chest 127:509
- Theophyllines
- Decreased use in current Asthma management
- Anti-IgE Therapy (Omalizumab)
- Indicated in severe refractory (Step 5-6) Asthma with IgE levels >75
- Subcutaneous injection every 2-4 weeks
- Prevention
- See Asthma Education
- Influenza Vaccine yearly
- Protection lags shot by 2 weeks
- Consider Amantadine with Influenza Vaccine
- Asthma exacerbation occurs during Influenza season
- References
- Kalister (2001) West J Med 174:415
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