The pharmacist, an ally in the management of childhood asthma

Pharmacists, they perform in a dispensary or hospital, have many opportunities to participate in youth information asthma and their parents to help them better control of their disease, according to an article published in the magazine "U.S. Pharmacist."

The significant increase in asthma and allergies in the past two decades in children and adolescents has made this disease one of the most frequent in pediatric chronic diseases, says Catherine Tom, who teaches at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Long Island University in New York.

If asthma can have a significant impact on the daily lives of children who suffer (limitations in activities and exercise, school absenteeism, medical admissions consultations in emergency or inpatient services ...) this influence can be limited by good control of the disease.

For Catherine Tom, the pharmacist's role is to educate such young patients and their parents simple steps to reduce their frequency and intensity of attacks, emphasizing the need for good adherence background. It should especially help parents to realize that children are more sensitive to the side effects of asthma medications and they may have difficulty describing their symptoms, two factors influencing adherence.

However, young people with asthma should be directly involved in the management of their disease, as they are able to receive information about it from the age of two years, says the American pharmacist, saying he simply choose supports tailored to each age group.

It is also the pharmacist in case of overuse treatment of crisis, can spot a poorly controlled asthma. In this case, it should ensure that measures to limit the exposure of children to allergens (cigarette smoke, pets, dust ...) have been implemented.

Such a situation may also reflect a misuse of inhalers, and it is never superfluous to recall how to use them, with a demonstration device, said Catherine Tom.

Finally, pharmacists should also remind parents that, contrary to what one might think, the practice of regular physical activity is shown most often beneficial for asthmatic children, provided they have no cons- medical indication chosen sport and do not forget to properly warm up before exercise.