Asthma in under five-year-olds

Dr David McNamara talks through addressing the challenges and barriers to diagnosis of asthma in the under five-year-old child.

Topics

The new Child Asthma Guidelines 2020 for children
Diagnosis and management under 1’s
Management 1- 4 year olds
Developing asthma from wheeze
Assessing severity
When to refer

Take home messages

Diagnosis is based on response to therapy
Need for recall and follow up
Always check inhaler technique and perform education
Address inequality

Resources

Asthma and wheeze, management of acute Starship clinical guidelines (2019)
New Zealand Child Asthma Guidelines 2020 Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand (2020)
Child Asthma Action Plan Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand

Presenter

Dr David McNamara

Paediatric Specialist

Dr David McNamara is a Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep medicine specialist employed at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland. He is a graduate of Auckland Medical School and completed paediatric respiratory training in 2006. He underwent sleep medicine training at Sydney Children’s Hospital. His clinical interests include asthma and obstructive sleep apnoea in children. His research interests include the use of humidification therapy in children with tracheostomies and the assessment of health-related quality of life in technology-dependent children and their families.