BMJ Best Practice Podcast Asthma in children
18 snips
Aug 21, 2025 Helen Brough, a Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London, discusses the challenges of diagnosing asthma in children, emphasizing nocturnal cough as a key symptom. She outlines critical management strategies, including the use of inhaled corticosteroids and the necessity of recognizing triggers. The conversation touches on the impact of air pollution on rising asthma rates and the misconceptions about outgrowing the condition. Brough also highlights innovative solutions like smart inhalers to improve adherence and overall care.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Avoid SABA Monotherapy
- Never prescribe a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) alone for a confirmed asthma diagnosis.
- Pair relievers with inhaled corticosteroid-based anti-inflammatory therapy to reduce severe exacerbation risk.
Inhaled Steroids And MART
- Use inhaled corticosteroids as the cornerstone preventer therapy to reduce lung inflammation and mucus production.
- Consider MART (formoterol+ICS) maintenance-and-reliever therapy for suitable patients aged ~12 and older.
Address Causes Before Escalating
- If symptoms persist on ICS, check triggers, inhaler technique, adherence and comorbidities like allergic rhinitis or obesity.
- Refer to secondary care before escalating beyond moderate ICS doses for specialist assessment.