Brief Review of Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2020 Chapter 6. Part A. Diagnosis [in children younger than 5]— Reddel 2020
This is a brief audio review. In the article Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2020 Update Chapter 6. Part A. Diagnosis [in children younger than 5] published, 2020 by Reddel and Colleagues, The outcomes and key points are as noted: The clinical criteria for asthma for children under 5 years old is complex. Here are key summary points for this age group in the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2020 Update. 1. Children under 5 years old may be unable to perform lung function testing, bronchial provocation testing, and other physiological testing. When children are 5 years old, they may be able to participate in spirometry if there is an experienced technician and 'visual' aids or 'incentives.' 2. The children most likely to have asthma may have cough, wheeze, heavy breathing for greater than 10 days during upper respiratory tract infections 3. Greater than 3 episodes per year or severe episodes and or night worsening 4. During play or laughing children may have cough, wheezing, or heavy breathing, indicative more likely of asthma, where as children less likely to have asthma will have none of these symptoms with these activities. 5. Allergic and atopic history tends to be more common in patients with asthma. 6. Clinicians can attempt a therapeutic trial of low dose inhaled corticosteroids and an as needed short acting beta agonist for 2-3 months, if the child under 5 years old improves during treatment and worsens when treatment is stopped, the diagnosis of asthma is more likely. 7. Features to observe and characterize in children younger than 5 years old are wheezing, cough, breathlessness, activity and social behavior.
Reddel, et al., Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention 2020, Chapter 6. Part A. Diagnosis [In Children Younger Than 5] https://ginasthma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/GINA-Main-Report-2022-FINAL-22-05-03-WMS.pdf
