15217 Pediatric Asthma: Pharmacologic Interventions

Course overview

Discussion of the goals of pharmacologic asthma therapy, the differences between interventions used for quick relief and long-term asthma control, and the clinical pearls of asthma medications. Asthma is a serious health concern in the United States, affecting more than 24 million Americans, and is one of the most common long-term diseases in children. The treatment goals for asthma are to minimize symptoms and allow children to participate in their normal physical activities while experiencing minimal side effects. Pharmacologic therapy is at the forefront of asthma management, and while clinical trials have demonstrated that asthma control is attainable for the majority of individuals with asthma, the condition remains both under-recognized and undertreated. Failure to control asthma imposes a large burden on patients, families and healthcare systems. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) created guidelines for clinicians to follow in order to achieve asthma control and establish a long-term treatment regime, and pharmacologic treatment is a major component necessary in achieving asthma control. Healthcare providers are the first line of defense in regards to diagnosing and treating asthma patients, and by educating nurses and other healthcare providers regarding best practices for the pharmacologic management of pediatric asthma, better patient outcomes can be achieved.