Pediatric Asthma Miami-Dade County Public Schools Physical Education and Health Literacy

Objectives  Overview of asthma  Review guidelines for asthma treatment  Review other management strategies for asthma

What is Asthma  Disease of chronic airway inflammation  Characterized by –Airway inflammation –Airflow obstruction –Airway hyperresponsiveness normal-versus-asthmatic-bronchiole.html Cookson W. Nature 1999; 402S: B5-11

Pathophysiology  Caused by –Inflammation and edema –Bronchial smooth muscle spasm and hypertrophy –Mucous plugging Jenkins, HA, et al. Chest 2003; 124:

Asthma in Children  Asthma is the most common chronic disorder of childhood  Over 9 million children under the age of 18 in the US have been diagnosed with asthma –The disparity between Black and white non-Hispanic children is increasing  Asthma morbidity and mortality is increasing as well

The Burden of Asthma in Children 1 million US children <18 y/o experience some degree of disability due to asthma –Disabling asthma disproportionately affects Blacks and Hispanics, single-parents, lower SES  Disabling asthma lead to ~3 weeks of restrictive activity per year higher than other chronic medical conditions –9.7 school days/year –~9.2 physicians contacts/year

Asthma Etiology  Asthma is a complex trait –Heritable and environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis  Multiple interacting genes –At least 20 distinct chromosomal regions with linkage to asthma and asthma related traits have been identified  Chromosome 5q – cytokine gene cluster  ADAM33 – bronchial hyperresponsiveness  PHF11 – total IgE

Hygiene Hypothesis  Rapid rise in atopy and asthma is greatest in developed countries and urban areas –Cannot be explained by change in genetic background but is thought to be the result of complex interactions between genes and the environment

History “ These observations…could be explained if allergic disease were prevented by infection in early childhood, transmitted by unhygienic contact with older siblings, or acquired prenatally…Over the past century declining family size, improved household amenities and higher standards of personal cleanliness have reduced opportunities for cross-infection in young families. This may have result in more widespread clinical expression of atopic disease.” David Strachan, BMJ, 1989

Allergic Diseases and Autoimmune Diseases are Rising Bach JF, N Engl J Med 2002; 347:

Hygiene Hypothesis  Environmental impact on asthma –Farm exposure –Day care/siblings –Pets –Early infections

Etiological Factors – Gene and Environment Wills-Karp M, et al. Nature Reviews Immunology; 2001; 1: 69-75

Diagnosing Asthma  Clinical diagnosis supported by the certain historical, physical and laboratory findings –History of episodic symptoms of airflow obstruction –Physical: wheeze, hyperinflation –Laboratory: exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), spirometry  Exclude other possibilities

Conditions Mimicking Asthma  Obstruction of small airways –Aspiration –Chronic lung disease secondary to prematurity –Bronchiolitis –Cystic Fibrosis  Obstruction of large airways –Foreign body –Congenital malformations –Cardiac disease –Endobronchial tumors –Extrabronchial obstruction –Psychogenic

Natural History of Asthma Martinez, FD. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999; 104: S

Diagnosing Asthma in Young Children – Asthma Predictive Index  > 4 episodes/yr of wheezing lasting more than 1 day affecting sleep in a child with one MAJOR or two MINOR criteria  Major criteria –Parent or sibling with asthma –Atopic dermatitis –Aeroallergen sensitivity  Minor criteria –Food sensitivity –Eosinophilia (>4%) –Wheezing apart from infection Adapted from Castro-Rodriquez JA, et al. AJRCCM 2000; 162: 1403

Outcome of Childhood Asthma Phelan PD, et al. J Allergy Clin Immnol 2002; 109:

Asthma Classification Days with symptoms Nights with symptoms PEF or FEV1 PEF Variability Mild Intermittent <2x/week <2x/month >80% <20% Mild Persistent 3-6x/week>2x/month >80% 20-30% Moderate Persistent Daily>1x/week > <80%>30% Severe Persistent ContinuousFrequent <60% >30% Adapted from Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma-Update on Selected Topics NIH Publication No

Patient Deaths (%) Asthma Mortality: Mild Patients Are Also at Risk Robertson et al. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1992;13: Patient Assessment SevereModerateMild40

"Rules of Two" is a trademark of the Baylor Health Care System Rules of Two TM  Use of a quick-relief inhaler more than: 2 times per week  Awaken at night due to asthma symptoms more than: 2 times per month  Refill of a quick-relief inhaler prescription more than: 2 times per year

Relative Risk of Hospitalization Prescriptions per Person-Year None ß 2 -agonists Total Age 0-17 Total Inhaled Steroids Breaking the “Rules of Two TM ” Results in Asthma Morbidity Adapted from Donahue et al. JAMA. 1997;277:

Goals of Treatment  SLEEP  LEARN  PLAY

Key Components of Asthma Therapy  Assessment and monitoring  Pharmacologic therapy  “Trigger” control  Patient education Adapted from NAEPP Practical Guide for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma NIH Pub

Pharmacologic Treatment “Controller” Long-term Control “Rescue”Short-acting Mild Intermittent None Β 2 -agonist Mild Persistent Preferred: low dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) Β 2 -agonist Moderate Persistent Preferred: low-medium dose ICS and long-acting Β 2 -agonist Β 2 -agonist Severe Persistent Preferred: low-medium dose ICS and long-acting Β 2 -agonist and oral corticosteroids if needed Β 2 -agonist Adapted from Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma- Update on Selected Topics NIH Publication No

Inhaled Corticosteroids  Preferred treatment alone or in combination for all persistent categories of asthma  Safe when use is monitored  Reduces asthma symptoms, bronchial hyperreactivity, exacerbations and hospitalizations, need for rescue medications  Improves pulmonary function, quality of life  May prevent airway remodeling

Pharmacogenetics  Study of the role of genetic determinants in the variable response to therapy  The future of asthma treatment

Other Management Issues  Environmental control –“Safe” room  Diet –Infant feeding –Sodium –Fatty acids –Antioxidants

Is Environmental Control Helpful?  Single allergen reduction not effective   “…Treatment by means of allergen avoidance requires the definition of what patients are allergic to, and additional measures beyond the use of mattress covers and education” Thomas Platts-Mills a-common-asthma-triggers.html

Tailored Environmental Intervention  Morgan et al, 2004  Randomized, controlled trial of environmental intervention  Intervention resulted in –Reduction in asthma symptoms, disruption in caretakers plans, caretaker’s and child’s sleep, asthma-related visits to the ER or clinic –Reduction in asthma symptoms were correlated to reduction in allergens  No difference in reduction of allergens in homes with carpets or without carpets

Tailored Environmental Control Reduces Asthma Symptoms Morgan WJ, et al. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:

Air Filters and Asthma McDonald E, et al. Chest 2002;

Diet and Asthma  High sodium diet may result in adverse effects on airway reactivity in patients with asthma –No recommendation to implement low salt diets  Potassium and Magnesium effect unclear  Tartazine exclusion not helpful except perhaps those with proven sensitivity

Diet and Asthma  Breast feeding –Exclusive breast feeding > 4 months  Protective against recurrent wheeze  Higher odds of asthma in children who are atopic and have a mother with asthma  Maternal avoidance diets during pregnancy does not affect incidence of asthma  Utilization of protein hydrolyzed formulas have not been shown to reduce incidence of asthma  Probiotics supplementation has demonstrated decrease in atopy, but asthma is unknown

Diet and Asthma  Polyunsaturated fatty acids –Omega 3’s vs. Omega 6’s  Omega 6 fatty acids, present in animal fat, metabolized to arachidonic acid generating potent inflammatory mediators and broncho-constricting agents  Omega 3 fatty acids, found particularly in fatty fish are metabolized to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid –May competitively inhibit the use of arachidonic acid as a substrate for the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes –Theoretical benefit to lung function, but not conclusively proven in studies  Trans fatty acids associated with prevalence of asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, and atopic eczema

Diet and Asthma  Antioxidants –Epidemiological evidence suggests that antioxidants have a role in asthma –Randomized trials  No current role for Vitamin C in the treatment of asthma  Vitamin E supplementation provides no additional benefit to standard treatment of asthma  No substantiated role for Β-carotene supplementation in asthma

Asthma Education  Self management education associated with: –Improvements in airflow –Improvements in self-efficacy scales –Reductions in school absence –Reduction in days of restricted activity –Reduction in emergency room visits

Summary  Asthma is a disease of chronic airway inflammation; thus, inhaled corticosteroids is the preferred pharmacologic therapy  Persistent asthma (those who break the “rules of two”) need a controller medication  Children with asthma should all be able to sleep, learn, and play