Teo J
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore.
Ann Acad Med Singap. 1987 Apr;16(2):225-7.
Children with asthma may be misdiagnosed when they present with chronic cough or wheezing following an upper respiratory infection. Such children are more appropriately treated with bronchodilators than with antibiotics and cough medicine. Failure to recognise these presentations of childhood asthma often lead to its increased morbidity. Inappropriate bronchodilator therapy and the failure to consider prophylactic drugs are common causes of poor control of childhood asthma. Wherever possible, the beta 2-sympathomimetics should be prescribed in the inhaled form. The inhalation methods and devices employed should be appropriate for the age of the child. Steroids are often necessary for good control in children with chronic asthma. Fear of their systemic side-effects may delay their use. These side-effects can be avoided if the inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate is used. The majority of chronic asthmatic children will improve with beclomethasone dipropionate without the need for additional oral steroids. It is important to note that successful management of childhood asthma does not only depend on the appropriate use of drugs but also the education of the child and parents on asthma.
哮喘儿童在出现上呼吸道感染后的慢性咳嗽或喘息时可能会被误诊。这类儿童使用支气管扩张剂治疗比使用抗生素和止咳药更为合适。未能识别儿童哮喘的这些症状往往会导致其发病率增加。支气管扩张剂治疗不当以及未考虑预防性药物是儿童哮喘控制不佳的常见原因。只要有可能，β2 - 拟交感神经药应以吸入形式给药。所采用的吸入方法和装置应适合儿童年龄。对于慢性哮喘儿童，通常需要使用类固醇来实现良好控制。对其全身副作用的担忧可能会延迟其使用。如果使用吸入性二丙酸倍氯米松，这些副作用是可以避免的。大多数慢性哮喘儿童使用二丙酸倍氯米松后病情会改善，无需额外使用口服类固醇。需要注意的是，儿童哮喘的成功管理不仅取决于药物的合理使用，还取决于对儿童及其父母进行哮喘教育。
