Does influenza vaccination improve pediatric asthma outcomes?

Objective: Controversy exists regarding the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing influenza-related asthma exacerbations in the pediatric population. While yearly influenza immunization is widely recommended for children with asthma, there is currently little evidence to support this practice. Several studies have demonstrated no measurable benefit in asthma outcomes.

Assessing the value of disease management: impact of 2 disease management strategies in an underserved asthma population.

Background: The goal of disease management (DM) is to improve health outcomes and reduce cost through decreasing health care utilization. Although some studies have shown that DM improves asthma outcomes, these interventions have not been examined in a large randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 2 previously successful DM programs with that of traditional care.

Can equal access to care eliminate racial disparities in pediatric asthma outcomes?

A survey was given to the parents of 80 children with asthma between the ages of 3 and 18 years at the Pediatric Pulmonology Clinics of three military treatment facilities to evaluate asthma management and outcomes for different racial groups. Results demonstrated that management practices for the three groups were similar and that there were no significant differences in emergency department visits, prescription of oral steroids, or in the number of hospitalizations across the three groups. These findings suggest that equal access to care may allow children of different racial backgrounds to receive similar asthma care and achieve similar outcomes.

Respiratory distress.

Preparation for pediatric pulmonary emergencies in the office setting includes adequate training for all medical staff, properly sized and working equipment, and medications to help alleviate respiratory distress when indicated. Status asthmaticus, viral bronchiolitis, and croup account for the vast majority of respiratory emergencies encountered in the pediatric office setting. Timely application of proven approaches to assessment and treatment of these illnesses can prevent hospitalization, decrease length of hospitalizations, and save lives.

Evaluating the use of a portable spirometer in a study of pediatric asthma.

Study Objectives: Laboratory-based spirometry is the "gold standard" for the assessment of lung function, both in clinical and research protocols. These spirometers, however, are neither practical nor affordable for home-based monitoring or studies that collect data in multiple locations. Traditionally, peak flowmeters have been used, but they have important limitations.