title: Asthma: diagnosis and management in the very young child.
abstract: Most wheezy infants do not have a significant medical problem, and most will outgrow the condition in early childhood. A small proportion, however, have troublesome asthma and suffer significant morbidity (such as severe episodes of breathlessness and persistent distressing cough, and are often admitted to hospital). These infants should be offered appropriate asthma medications by inhalation (Table 4) to which most will respond. Although many currently use home nebulisers, alternative inhalation devices (especially the MDI/spacer/face mask) should be encouraged. A few wheezy infants will have a major underlying congenital malformation. Ruling out this group of conditions is essential before embarking on any asthma drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown, New South Wales.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mellis
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents