A Survey of Awareness and Application of the Guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: This survey was intended to investigate the awareness and application of the asthma guideline among pediatricians. Insight into the feasibility in the guidelines can guide implementation strategies in the future and, if necessary, support the revision of the previous guideline. METHODS: This self-administered survey study was conducted with the data on 10 items of questionnaire about knowledge and implementation of Korean childhood asthma guideline. The data was analyzed using SPSS WINDOW 8.0. RESULTS: A total of 141 doctors out of 500 participants in the pediatric refresh course responded the questionnaire. Ninety-five percent of the responders were aware of guideline, but differences were found between the asthma management policies in the guideline and their habitual practice patterns. As far as the prescription of inhaled corticosteroid, approximately half of the responders followed the guideline. For peak flowmeter use, 57% of the responders never prescribed peak flowmeter and only 5% of the responders used peak flowmeter frequently. The barriers pediatricians face when applying the guideline in the practice were habitual management pattern, time limitation, low compliance, lack of knowledge and economic burden. CONCLUSION: The guideline for diagnosis and management of childhood asthma seemed to be recognized widely, however, the role of the guideline to change pediatricians habitual practice was limited. These data clearly indicate a need for further educational programs directed to both physicians and patients. Finally the development of more practical evidence- based guideline is needed

A Case of Persistent Kawasaki Disease Improved with Pulsed Doses of Methylprednisolone / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of unknown causes that occurs predominantly in infants and young children and produces coronary artery aneurysm. We have recently experienced a case of persistent Kawasaki disease in a 24 month-old-girl improved with pulsed doses of methylprednisolone. Even with an administration of intravenous gamma globulin(IVIG), she repeated the course of recovery and aggravation. After four times repeated doses of IVIG, additional intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy was tried and resulted in remarkable improvement. We reported the case with a brief review of the related literature.