title: Emergency care of asthma.
abstract: Children with asthma frequently receive care in the emergency department (ED). The factors associated with presentation to the ED are complex and must be considered when developing a treatment plan and disposition. The diagnosis and assessment must be rapid and focused, and treatment must be initiated promptly. Objective measures should be used where possible to assess the response to therapy and determine readiness for discharge. This Article reviews the essential components of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of pediatric asthma in the ED, and it reviews the key elements of discharge planning.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Crain
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gershel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009519:New York City; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D010100:Oxygen