title: Management of childhood asthma in general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended for children with moderate or severe persistent asthma. The aims of this paper were to determine changes in childhood asthma management rates between 2004-14, and to examine current medication use and level of control in children attending general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  National BEACH data were used to investigate childhood (<15 years) asthma management rate. Prevalence, medication use and asthma control (Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines) were recorded for a subset of children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The management rate did not change over time. Prevalence was 13.7%. ICS were taken by 42.8% of children. Asthma was well controlled for 51.8%, partly controlled for 30.4% and uncontrolled for 17.9% of children. This study highlights the need to monitor appropriate medication use, particularly ICS/long-acting β-agonist use, for asthma control in children.
authors.affiliation: (HIM) (Hons), PhD (Med), Senior Research Fellow, Family Medicine Research Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Britt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents