[When the treatment in children with asthma fails: first other reasons should be sought before prescribing more medication].
In 4 children with asthma symptoms increased. A 13-year-old girl suffered shortness of breath from fear of a man who was making indecent advances; an 8-year-old girl was allergic to the new cat at home; a 6-year-old boy was not inhaling the medication properly; and a 6-year-old girl had tracheomalacia and a vascular ring. After the appropriate treatment policy was implemented, the symptoms reduced or the extra doses of medication were no longer needed. If the treatment of asthma in children is unsuccessful, then therapy compliance and inhalation technique should be assessed first. After that causes of failure can be excluded. Only when this has been done can the dosage of inhalation corticosteroids be increased or other medicines added to the medication therapy.
de Vries
T W
TW
Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Postbus 888, 8901 BR Leeuwarden. tjalling.de.vries@znb.nl
Duiverman
E J
EJ
Rottier
B L
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017211:Treatment Failure
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents