Optimizing care for children with difficult-to-treat and severe asthma through specialist paediatric asthma centres: expert practical experience and advice.

Severe asthma in children carries an unacceptable treatment burden, yet its rarity means clinical experience in treating it is limited, even among specialists. Practical guidance is needed to support clinical decision-making to optimize treatment for children with this condition.This modified Delphi convened 16 paediatric pulmonologists and allergologists from northern Europe, all experienced in treating children with severe asthma. Informed by interviews with stakeholders involved in the care of children with severe asthma (including paediatricians, nurses and carers), and an analysis of European guidelines, the experts built a consensus focused on the gaps in existing guidance. Explored were considerations for optimizing care for patients needing biologic treatment, and for selecting home or hospital delivery of biologics. This consensus is aimed at clinicians in specialist centres, as well as general paediatricians, paediatric allergologists and paediatric pulmonologists who refer children with the most severe asthma to specialist care. Consensus is based on expert opinion and is intended for use alongside published guidelines.Our discussions revealed three key facets to optimizing care. Firstly, early asthma detection in children presenting with wheezing and/or dyspnoea is vital, with a low threshold for referral from primary to specialist care. Secondly, children who may need biologics should be referred to and managed by specialist paediatric asthma centres; we define principles for the specialist team members, tests, and expertise necessary at such centres, as well as guidance on when homecare biologics delivery is and is not appropriate. Thirdly, shared decision-making is essential at all stages of the patient's journey: clear, concise treatment plans are vital for patient/carer self-management, and structured processes for transition from paediatric to adult services are valuable. The experts identified the potential for specialist paediatric asthma nurses to play a significant role in facilitating multidisciplinary working.Through this project is agreed a framework of practical advice to optimize the care of children with severe asthma. We encourage clinicians and policymakers to implement this practical advice to enhance patient care.

Evaluation of monitoring strategies for childhood asthma.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of monitoring pediatric asthma is to obtain and maintain asthma control, which is defined as minimizing asthma symptoms, restrictions to daily activities and the use of rescue medication. Long term goals include reducing the risk of fixed airflow limitation, and preventing asthma exacerbations and side effects of treatment. Several monitoring tools are available but no consensus exists on how to monitor patients in the most optimal way. Areas covered: In this review, we provide an overview of different tools and address general considerations on monitoring childhood asthma. Asthma care should be tailored to the individual patient. The health care professional should decide which monitoring strategy and frequency is optimal for the individual patient. Expert commentary: Personalized medicine should be the key issue in monitoring asthma in children. It is crucial to monitor disease activity and deterioration but there is no monitoring strategy that is clearly superior compared to others: The optimal strategy and frequency will vary between patients. Actually, both treatment and monitoring of pediatric asthma probably benefit from a personalized approach.

Extended nitric oxide analysis may improve personalized anti-inflammatory treatment in asthmatic children with intermediate F(E)NO50.

Exhaled nitric oxide (F(E)NO) is elevated in asthma, and a clinical practice guideline has been published with recommendations for anti-inflammatory treatment. It summarizes that a F(E)NO at an expiratory flow rate of 50 ml s(-1) (F(E)NO50) above 35 ppb in children indicates eosinophilic inflammation, and the most likely response is to use inhaled corticosteroids. Intermediate F(E)NO50 between 20-35 ppb should be interpreted cautiously. The aim of the study was to investigate this guideline in a small group of asthmatic children. Thirty-seven asthmatic children; 23 boys and 14 girls, visited the outpatient clinic, and provided exhaled breath samples for offline NO measurement. These samples were analysed with chemiluminescence techniques. Three flow rates, namely 16, 90 and 230 ml s(-1) were used for the extended NO analysis (Högman-Meriläinen algorithm, HMA) to estimate the alveolar concentration (C(A)NO), diffusion rate of the airway wall (D(aw)NO) and airway wall content (C(aw)NO). For accuracy of the HMA, the estimated value of F(E)NO at 50 ml s(-1) (F(E)NO50) was compared with measured F(E)NO50. In nine children the difference was more than 5 ppb and the data were therefore excluded. Five children with F(E)NO50 <20 ppb had no known allergy and their F(E)NO50 geometrical mean (25th; 75th percentile) was 11 (10;14) and CawNO was 32 (20;43) ppb. Ten children with F(E)NO50 > 35 ppb had an allergy and had F(E)NO50 of 56 (47;60) ppb and C(aw)NO of 140 (121;172) ppb. Thirteen children with allergies, with intermediate F(E)NO50, had F(E)NO50 of 27 (25;30) ppb with a wide range of C(aw)NO. In five of these children, values were comparable to healthy children, 44 (43;50) ppb while eight children had elevated C(aw)NO values of 108 (95;129) ppb. Our data indicate the clinical potential use of extended NO analysis to determine the personal target value of F(E)NO50 for monitoring the treatment outcome. Furthermore, for children with intermediate F(E)NO50 more than half of them could possibly benefit from an adjustment of inhaled corticosteroids if the C(aw)NO value was considered.

Bilateral ureteral obstruction after appendectomy in children.

Five cases of bilateral ureteral obstruction after appendicectomy are presented. All five patients were boys (age range, 9 to 15 years). All of them had had severe appendicitis. Based on the urethrocystoscopy findings, edema of the posterior bladder wall appeared to be the cause of obstruction of both distal ureters. This is confirmed by the immediate recovery of renal function after installation of bilateral uretercatheters. It is known that contamination of the peritoneal cavity can occur by organisms leaking from a gangrenous or perforated appendix. This can cause localized inflammatory edema of the posterior bladder wall. It is remarkable that through ultrasound investigation, only mild to moderate dilatation of the urinary tract was observed. An explanation can be obtained from animal models, wherein acute obstruction of the ureter leads only to a transient increase in ureteral pressure, followed by a decline toward the preobstruction level. It is important to be aware that this complication can occur after appendectomy; bilateral uretercatheters can be installed, and irreversible renal damage can be avoided.

Serum sodium levels and probability of recurrent febrile convulsions.

UNLABELLED: In a prospective study of 69 children with febrile convulsions, serum sodium levels were often lower than normal (52% had levels < 135 mmol/l). The mean level (134.4 +/- 0.4 mmol/l) was significantly lower as compared to a group of children without fever (140.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, n = 23) and as compared to a group with fever but without convulsions (137.6 +/- 0.6 mmol/l, n = 31). The probability of a repeat convulsion within the same febrile period appeared to be significantly related to the serum sodium level. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the serum sodium is a valuable investigation in the child with a febrile convulsion. The lower the serum sodium level, the higher the probability of a repeat convulsion. This knowledge may be of practical value in deciding whether to admit the child or allow it to return home and in advising parents or carers of the risk of a repeat convulsion.

[Antenatally determined nephro-urological anomalies: correctness of diagnosis and influence on management]. / Antenataal vastgestelde nefro-urologische afwijkingen: juistheid van diagnose en invloed op beleid.

On the basis of the experience of 52 antenatal diagnoses of foetal urinary tract abnormalities we discuss the influence of these diagnoses on antenatal and postnatal management. A correct diagnosis was established in only 34 of the 52 cases (65%). Therefore, in utero intervention should be used with utmost restrictiveness. Moreover, the antenatal diagnosis is usually not made in the first half of the pregnancy (which most authors consider necessary) and the benefits of prenatal intervention are not yet established. The data emphasize the importance of a thorough postnatal investigation and, necessary, early treatment before severe infections may occur. Antenatal ultrasound can make an important contribution to the prevention of kidney damage.