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ISSN 1405-1699 (Print)
Órgano Oficial del Colegio Mexicano de Alergia, Asma e Inmunología Pediátrica y de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Pediatría

2004, Number 3

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Alerg Asma Inmunol Pediatr 2004; 13 (3)

Treatment of acute severe asthma in children

Rubén Eduardo Vázquez García, José G Huerta López, Álvaro Pedroza, Mario Acosta Bastidas

Language: Spanish
References: 96
Page: 109-119
PDF size: 226.32 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Asthma is the most common medical emergency in children. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates and poses a tremendous societal burden worldwide. Management of the acute attack involves a stepwise approach that includes ß2-agonist and steroid therapy, the mainstay of emergency treatment. Most patients will respond to this regime and can be discharged from the emergency department. Failure to respond to treatment necessitates hospital admission and sometimes admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Management in the ICU involves intensification of pharmacologic therapy, including nonstandard therapies, in an attempt to avoid intubation and ventilation. When needed, mechanical ventilatory support can be rendered fairly safe with little morbidity if the likely cardiorespiratory physiologic derangements are appreciated and if appropriate ventilatory strategies are used. In the past two decades, the availability of newer potent medications and changes in approach to monitoring and ventilatory strategies have resulted in a decrease in ICU morbidity and mortality rates. This article reviews the approach to management of acute severe asthma.


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