Title: Asthma and Asthma Exacerbation Exists in Infants (<1 year) and Can be Treated Effectively with Inhaled Corticosteroids
Abstract: The study provides prospective evidence that asthma exists in infants (<1 year of age) and can be effectively treated using inhaled corticosteroids. We evaluated 1500 children aged 0-5 years (31% <1 year) with asthma exacerbation who failed to be controlled by conventional drug therapy. The children were treated with inhaled corticosteroids using three protocols according to the severity of their exacerbation: inhalers, inhalation, or inhalation + azithromycin. The sex ratio, asthma in the family, emergency department visits, hospitalization, duration of asthma symptoms, and usage of beta2-agonists or oral corticosteroids were similar in infants and older children. All treated children had a history of prolonged cough and were coughing during their first visit, but only 45% had also wheezing. During the follow-up period there was, for the entire cohort, a 99% reduction in the number of emergency department visits, 93% fewer hospitalizations, and 100% reduction in oral corticosteroid usage. The vast majority of treated children (88%) showed good response to treatment, with similar responses in infants and in older children. No significant differences were found between children with prolonged cough, with or without wheezing. The data presented indicates that asthma exists also in infants. Asthmatic infants with or without wheezing, have a similar history, signs and symptoms as older children do, and respond well, similarly to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot