[Therapy of severe asthma crisis in children. Therapeutic course. A propos of 40 cases].

Forty children with severe asthma were admitted to an intensive care unit from 1970 to 1981. Criteria of severity were alteration of consciousness, circulatory failure, hypercarbia greater than 7 KPa and paradoxical pulse greater than 35 mmHg persisting in spite of correct treatment. Some therapeutic measures (oxygen, corticosteroids, antibiotics, hydratation) were not modified during this period. On the contrary, bronchodilators, used at a higher dose since June 1980, were very effective on bronchospasm without side effects, making controlled ventilation unnecessary. These results seem to be very encouraging but have to be confirmed.