Childhood asthma in the emergency department: trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Acute exacerbations of childhood asthma are frequently managed in the emergency department (ED). ED-based surveillance and intervention projects highlight the limitations and challenges of acute and chronic childhood asthma management. Because a significant number of asthmatic children currently receive and will likely continue to seek acute asthma care in the ED, provision of asthma education and initiation of controller medication therapy during the ED visit, although controversial, may contribute to improving asthma outcomes and eventually to reducing the burden of asthma on our overcrowded EDs.
Walsh-Kelly
Christine M
CM
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. kjkelly@cmh.edu
Drendel
Amy L
AL
Gales
Maria S
MS
Kelly
Kevin J
KJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods