Common critical mistakes in inhalation technique in asthmatic children

In the first study evaluating inhalation technique in hospitalized children for asthma – the group most at risk for complications and deaths due to asthma – the researchers found that near the Half of the participants demonstrated inappropriate use by inhaler, which meant that they did not consistently take the full dose of medication. Teenagers most often displayed critical errors in the inhalation technique. They also often skipped the use of an interlayer, which is a device recommended for use with an inhaler to help the appropriate amount of asthma medication reach the lungs. The results were published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

"We know that asthma can be well managed in the majority of patients and that the proper use of your inhaler is a key factor in asthma management," said the advisor. Lead author Waheeda Samady, MD, hospitalist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Hospital for Children of Chicago and Assistant. Professor of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. "An inappropriate inhalation technique can help children with uncontrolled asthma and need to go to the hospital to treat their asthma." Our study suggests that as providers From health care, we can do a better job by showing patients and their families the correct technique of inhalation and inhalation, and by checking it frequently to make sure that they are safe. they control him. "

Of the 113 study participants aged 2 to 16, 42% missed at least one critical step in their inhalation technique. The researchers found that 18% did not use a spacer with their inhaler and that these patients were mostly older.

"We are finding that our adolescent patients, who are moving to independent drug management, still need close monitoring to ensure that they are using their inhaler and spacer properly for get optimal control of asthma, "says Dr. Samady. "Teens may think that using a spacer is only for young children, but using a spacer is also recommended for adults."

Previous studies have shown that adding an infusion device to an inhaler increases the amount of asthma medication that a person consumes from 34% to 83%.

"Asthmatic children can lead a busy life if they receive the right medication at the proper dose, which is why the correct inhalation technique is so crucial," said Dr. Samady.

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Research conducted at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago is conducted by the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute. The Manne Research Institute strives to improve children's health, transform pediatric medicine, and build a healthier future through the never-ending quest for knowledge. Lurie Children's is ranked as one of the best children's hospitals in the country by the US News & World Report. This is the pediatric training ground of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Last year, the hospital served more than 212,000 children in 49 states and 51 countries.

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