title: Definition, assessment and treatment of wheezing disorders in preschool children: an evidence-based approach.
abstract: There is poor agreement on definitions of different phenotypes of preschool wheezing disorders. The present Task Force proposes to use the terms episodic (viral) wheeze to describe children who wheeze intermittently and are well between episodes, and multiple-trigger wheeze for children who wheeze both during and outside discrete episodes. Investigations are only needed when in doubt about the diagnosis. Based on the limited evidence available, inhaled short-acting beta(2)-agonists by metered-dose inhaler/spacer combination are recommended for symptomatic relief. Educating parents regarding causative factors and treatment is useful. Exposure to tobacco smoke should be avoided; allergen avoidance may be considered when sensitisation has been established. Maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids is recommended for multiple-trigger wheeze; benefits are often small. Montelukast is recommended for the treatment of episodic (viral) wheeze and can be started when symptoms of a viral cold develop. Given the large overlap in phenotypes, and the fact that patients can move from one phenotype to another, inhaled corticosteroids and montelukast may be considered on a trial basis in almost any preschool child with recurrent wheeze, but should be discontinued if there is no clear clinical benefit. Large well-designed randomised controlled trials with clear descriptions of patients are needed to improve the present recommendations on the treatment of these common syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Princess Amalia Children's Clinic, Isala klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands. p.l.p.brand@isala.nl
authors.forename: P L P
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Brand
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authors.lastname: Baraldi
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authors.lastname: Bisgaard
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authors.lastname: Boner
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authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castro-Rodriguez
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authors.lastname: Custovic
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authors.lastname: de Jongste
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authors.lastname: Frey
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authors.lastname: Gappa
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authors.lastname: Garcia-Marcos
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authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lenney
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Souëf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: P J F M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Merkus
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Midulla
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Paton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piacentini
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authors.lastname: Pohunek
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi
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authors.lastname: Seddon
authors.forename: M
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authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sly
authors.forename: S
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authors.lastname: Stick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valiulis
authors.forename: W M C
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: van Aalderen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wildhaber
authors.forename: G
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authors.lastname: Wennergren
authors.forename: N
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authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Z
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authors.lastname: Zivkovic
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authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D000485:Allergens / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010641:Phenotype; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000485:Allergens; D005938:Glucocorticoids