Advances in pediatric drug therapy of asthma.
Most pediatric patients requiring medication to prevent or treat asthmatic symptoms require only the use of inhaled beta 2 agonists. Children younger than 6 years old usually require use of the nebulized or oral forms of beta 2 agonists. Theophylline or cromolyn is added as a second-line agent to the regimens of children who need an additional agent. Anticholinergic agents are added as third-line agents for resistant cases of asthma. Inhaled and oral steroids are reserved for resistant cases of childhood chronic asthma, even though adults frequently are given inhaled steroids as second-line agents. Parenteral steroids are used for the treatment of status asthmaticus.
Division of Clinical Pharmacy, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, California.
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D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium