Exercise Limitation in Children and Adolescents With Severe Refractory Asthma: A Lack of Asthma Control?

Background: Patients with severe refractory asthma (SRA), even when using high doses of multiple controller medications in a regular and appropriate way, can have persistent complaints of exercise limitation.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving patients with SRA (treated with ≥ 800 μg of budesonide or equivalent, with ≥ 80% adherence, appropriate inhaler technique, and comorbidities treated), who presented no signs of a lack of asthma control other than exercise limitation. We also evaluated healthy controls, matched to the patients for sex, age, and body mass index.

The impact of asthma and its treatment on growth: an evidence-based review.

Objectives: To assess the impact of asthma and its treatment (inhaled corticosteroids and other control medications) on growth.

Data Sources: The authors searched PubMed (up to August 24, 2018) and screened the reference lists of retrieved articles. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis were selected.

Quality of life in asthmatic adolescents: an overall evaluation of disease control.

Objective: to evaluate the relative impact of reported symptoms, school absenteeism, hospital admission, medical visits, and the presence of emotional and behavioral disorders on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of low income asthmatic adolescents.

Methods: Asthmatic adolescents were randomly selected among public schools in Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil. Asthma severity was rated according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) classification.

Early diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis: assessment by latex particle agglutination test.

Objectives: Acute pharyngitis is one of the most common diseases in pediatric practice, and the most common bacterial etiology is group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS). Correct diagnosis and treatment are primarily of importance to the prevention of non-suppurative sequelae. Rapid tests for detecting the antigen of group A streptococcus are a useful tool for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis, due to the speed of results, accuracy and low cost; however, in our country they are little used and have been little studied.