JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
Please be advised that the site will be down for maintenance on Sunday, September 1, 2024, from 08:00 to 18:00, and again on Monday, September 2, 2024, from 08:00 to 09:00. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Asthma treatment in children : a pragmatic approach
Masekela, Refiloe; Jeevarathnum, A.C.; Kling, S.; Gray, T.C.; Morrison, J.; Vanker, A.; Puterman, A.S.; Rhode, D.; Zollner, E.W.; De Waal, P.; Manjra, Ahmed I.; Levin, M.; Zar, Heather J.; Green, Robin J.; Kritzinger, F.E.
BACKGROUND. Asthma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by chronic inflammation and variable expiratory airflow limitation, with
airway reversibility. Management of chronic inflammation with anti-asthma medication improves asthma control and quality of life.
OBJECTIVES. To provide an evidence-based approach for chronic asthma management in young children and adolescents and provide
guidance on the use of new asthma drugs in children.
METHODS. The South African Childhood Asthma Working Group (SACAWG) convened in January 2017. The asthma treatment task group
reviewed the available scientific literature and international asthma treatment guidelines. The evidence was then graded according to the
Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system and recommendations were made based on
scientific evidence and local context. Asthma management recommendations were made for children ˂6 years of age and older children and
adolescents, as well as for stepping up and stepping down of therapy. This review does not include biologics or novel asthma drugs, which
are covered in another CME article in this edition of SAMJ.
CONCLUSIONS. To ensure good response, treatment and adherence, type of medication, device and checking of technique are all critical.
Stepping up of therapy should be done only after ensuring good adherence and technique. Once therapeutic response is achieved,
medication administration has to be stepped down to improve ease of use and avoid unnecessary side-effects.
Ives, Kim; Green, Robin J.(Allergy Society of South Africa, 2011-11)
The mechanisms for the aetiology and pathobiology
of allergy and asthma are currently matters of hot
debate in the scientific world. Each week it seems
that a new theory for their origins is proposed, new
evidence for ...
There are unanswered questions with regards to acute respiratory outcomes, particularly
asthma, due to environmental exposures. In contribution to asthma research, the current study
explored a computational intelligence ...