Asthma in Children

Part 1 The chesty child: what is a "chesty child" or chestiness? The definition and causes of cough; the definition and causes of wheeze; the definition of other forms of noisy breathing; clinical features suggesting asthma; summary. Part 2 What is asthma?: airway narrowing; airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness; trigger factors; development of airway hyper-responsiveness; summary. Part 3 Asthma through the ages: the wheezy baby; the pre-school child; the school-age child; adolescence; summary. Part 4 Assessing severity: clinical history; physical examination; lung function; assessing the acute episode; summary. Part 5 Triggers - avoidable or not?: exercise; air pollution; dietary manipulation; airborne allergens; viruses; summary. Part 6 Puffers, pills and potions: the relievers - bronchodilators; the preventers; new medications; alternative therapy; summary. Part 7 Inhalation devices: choosing a delivery system; dry powders; nebulisers; metered dose inhalers; spacers; summary. Part 8 What is the appropriate treatment?: diagnosis; severity assessment; treatment according to severity; influence of age on treatment; summary; case scenarios. Part 9 The asthma management plan: national consensus treatment plans; goals of treatment; the paediatric management plan; reognition and management of the acute, severe attack of asthma; summary. Part 10 Will my child grow out of asthma?: definitions/terminology; factors which predict the natural histroy of asthma; summary. Part 11 Commonly asked questions and answers.