Management of Asthma in the Preschool Child.

The management of asthma in the preschool population is challenging because disease phenotypes are heterogeneous and evolving. Available therapies aimed at preventing persistent symptoms and recurrent exacerbations include inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists; episodic use of inhaled corticosteroids and azithromycin may result in a decrease in exacerbations among children with intermittent disease. This article reviews an approach using patient characteristics for selecting initial treatment approaches based on disease phenotype, such as symptom patterns or evidence of atopic markers.

Phenotypes of wheezing and asthma in preschool children.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the identified phenotypes of preschool wheezing.

Recent Findings: Early life wheezing patterns have been described in multiple populations, with several commonalities found between cohorts. Early life environmental exposures have been found to be differentially associated with preschool wheezing phenotypes and their future trajectories.

Microbes and the Role of Antibiotic Treatment for Wheezy Lower Respiratory Tract Illnesses in Preschool Children.

Purpose Of Review: Antibiotics are commonly used to treat wheezy lower respiratory tract illnesses in preschoolers, although these infections have been traditionally thought to be predominantly of viral origin. Our purpose is to review recent research pertaining to the role of antibiotics in lower respiratory tract illnesses and on subsequent asthma development, as well as the possible mechanisms of their effects.

Recent Findings: Increasing evidence suggests that asthma pathogenesis is associated with events during infancy and early childhood, particularly respiratory tract infections.

Asthma control and obesity in urban African American children.

Objective: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), gender, age, controller medication use, household smoke exposure, season, and allergic rhinitis status with asthma control in a group of lower income, African American children. We hypothesized that non-obese children would have better asthma control.

Methods: Baseline data from a longitudinal study of children in a school-based asthma program in a Midwest urban area were analyzed.