Severe Asthma Twitter Education Program-Asthma Exacerbation Children

Asthma Exacerbation Children_Infographic

Pdf Summary

Acute asthma exacerbations are a major cause of illness in children, and even those with mild or intermittent asthma can experience severe attacks requiring intensive care. While mortality is rare, morbidity can be high, with some children needing hospitalization and weeks of recovery. The pathophysiology of acute asthma involves increased work of breathing, hypoxemia due to ventilation-perfusion mismatching, airway inflammation, and cardiopulmonary interactions.<br /><br />First-line treatments for acute asthma in children include continuous albuterol, inhaled β2-agonists, corticosteroids, supplemental oxygen, and IV fluid bolus. These treatments help relieve symptoms and maintain oxygen saturation levels. However, if first-line treatments are ineffective, second-line treatments may be necessary. These can include IV magnesium, nebulized ipratropium, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and IV terbutaline.<br /><br />Rescue therapies for acute asthma exacerbations are considered unproven, carry significant risk, and should only be used as a last resort. These therapies include helium-oxygen mixture to reduce turbulent airflow, intubation and mechanical ventilation for severe cases, inhaled anesthetics to improve bronchodilation, and extracorporeal support in extreme cases.<br /><br />In evaluating children with acute asthma, a rapid clinical assessment is crucial, followed by the prompt initiation of first-line treatments. Routine chest X-rays and blood gas analysis are not typically indicated. Signs of severity include subjective symptoms such as shortness of breath, work of breathing, and inability to speak or count to 10, as well as objective signs like respiratory rate, heart rate, and pulse oximetry.<br /><br />Overall, the management of acute asthma exacerbations in children requires a multi-faceted approach, starting with first-line treatments and escalating to second-line and rescue therapies if necessary. Prompt evaluation and appropriate interventions can help minimize morbidity and ensure a successful recovery for affected children.

Keywords

acute asthma exacerbations

children

morbidity

first-line treatments

second-line treatments

rescue therapies

evaluation

signs of severity

management

morbidity minimization