Asthma exacerbations in children IPD Mx
INTRODUCTION
Asthma เป็นโรคเรื้อรังที่พบบ่อยในเด็ก
และเป็นสาเหตุสำคัญของ ED visit และการนอนโรงพยาบาล
เด็กส่วนใหญ่มี exacerbation ระดับ mild แต่ผู้ที่ไม่ตอบสนองต่อ outpatient/ED therapy หรือมี
severe exacerbation จำเป็นต้อง admit เพื่อ
monitoring และ escalation of therapy
OVERVIEW
- การรักษาใน ward มักเป็น continuation
จาก ED
- เด็กส่วนใหญ่ได้รับ:
- ≥3
doses of inhaled SABA ± ipratropium
- systemic
glucocorticoids
- supplemental
oxygen
- หัวใจสำคัญ:
1.
Initial assessment + ongoing monitoring
2.
Management of bronchospasm, inflammation,
hypoxemia
3.
Discharge planning + asthma education +
controller optimization
การ handoff ระหว่าง clinic
→ ED → ward ต้องชัดเจน
เพื่อไม่ให้ miss หรือ duplicate therapy
INITIAL ASSESSMENT & ONGOING MONITORING
Key clinical parameters
- Respiratory
rate
- Work
of breathing (retractions, accessory muscle use)
- Wheeze
/ air entry
- Inspiratory:expiratory
ratio
- Pulse
oximetry
- Dyspnea
/ ability to speak
- Mental
status
- Heart
rate & rhythm (beta-agonist adverse effects)
⚠️ Pulse oximetry เพียงอย่างเดียวไม่พอ โดยเฉพาะในผู้ป่วยที่ได้ supplemental
O₂
(อาจ mask deterioration)
Signs of impending respiratory failure
- Cyanosis
- Severe
tachypnea หรือ fatigue + poor air movement
- Altered
mental status
- SpO₂
<90%
- Hypercarbia
(PaCO₂ >40 mmHg)
➡️ Indication for PICU
transfer
ROLE OF INVESTIGATIONS
Pulmonary function testing
- ❌
ไม่ใช้ routine
- ✔️
พิจารณาเฉพาะเด็กที่ cooperative หลัง stabilize
และ diagnosis/control ยัง unclear
Chest radiograph
❌ ไม่ทำ routine
✔️
ทำเมื่อ:
- Clinical
deterioration
- Suspected
complication: pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumonia
- Poor
response to therapy →
rule out asthma mimic (foreign body, vascular ring, ILO)
Laboratory studies
- ❌
ไม่จำเป็นใน intermittent therapy
- ✔️
Monitor electrolytes (K, Mg, PO₄) ในผู้ที่ได้ continuous
albuterol
- Blood
gas:
- Venous/capillary:
selected cases
- ABG:
signs of impending respiratory failure
- Normal
or rising CO₂ ใน tachypneic
child = red flag
INITIAL THERAPY
1. Inhaled short-acting beta agonists (SABA)
- Cornerstone
therapy
- Frequency:
- Moderate:
q1–3 hr
- q2
hr → switch to
continuous nebulization
- PRN
doses should always be available
2. Systemic glucocorticoids
- Indicated
in all hospitalized patients
- Oral
preferred (prednisone/prednisolone/dexamethasone)
- IV/IM
only if PO not tolerated
3. Supplemental oxygen
- Target
SpO₂ ≥92%
- All
nebulized meds delivered with oxygen (FiO₂ ~100%)
THERAPY ADJUSTMENT
- No
improvement / worsening →
increase frequency or escalate to continuous nebulization
- Stable
but not improving →
maintain current regimen
- Clear
improvement →
space treatments
Many hospitalsใช้ clinical pathways
/ asthma scores (PRAM, PIS)
→ ลด length
of stay และ cost
ESCALATION & FAILURE TO RESPOND
Escalation
- Switch
to continuous nebulized SABA when:
- Minimal
response to intermittent therapy
- Need
SABA more often than q2 hr
Failure to respond
Consider:
- Severe
asthma
- Complication
(atelectasis, pneumothorax, pneumonia)
- Misdiagnosis
(asthma mimic)
➡️ Chest X-ray + specialist
consultation recommended
Indications for PICU/anesthesia consult
- Continuous
SABA + worsening fatigue/work of breathing
- CO₂
retention
- Worsening
hypoxemia
ELEMENTS OF TREATMENT
Management of bronchospasm
Inhaled SABA
- Nebulized
albuterol:
- <30
kg: 2.5 mg
- ≥30
kg: 5 mg
- MDI:
4–8 puffs (usually ≤6)
- Nebulizer
flow: 6–8 L/min
Adverse effects
- Tachycardia,
diastolic hypotension
- Electrolyte
shifts (K, Mg, PO₄)
- Lactic
acidosis (continuous therapy)
Other bronchodilators (ipratropium, MgSO₄,
terbutaline, epinephrine)
➡️
ใช้ใน ED / ICU ไม่ใช่ routine ward
Management of inflammation
Systemic glucocorticoids
- Prednisone/prednisolone/methylprednisolone:
- ~2
mg/kg/day (max 60 mg) × 5 days
- Dexamethasone:
- 0.3–0.6
mg/kg/day × 1–2 days
Course นานขึ้น (7–10 วัน)
พิจารณาใน severe/slow response หรือ frequent
exacerbation
Inhaled corticosteroids
- ❌
ไม่ใช้แทน systemic steroids
- ✔️
Continue/initiate ระหว่าง admit เพื่อ promote
adherence post-discharge
Management of hypoxemia
- Target
SpO₂ ≥92%
- Titration:
- ≥94%
→ decrease flow
- 91–94%
→ maintain
- ≤90%
→ increase flow
- Continuous
pulse oximetry ระหว่างให้ออกซิเจน
THERAPIES RESERVED FOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS
- ICU-only:
- IV
beta agonists
- Magnesium
sulfate
- Methylxanthines
- NIV
/ HFNC / mechanical ventilation
- ❌
Antibiotics: no role unless bacterial infection suspected
- ❌
Chest physiotherapy (ยกเว้น atelectasis)
- ❌
Ipratropium และ LTRA: ไม่ใช้ routine
ใน inpatient
CONSULTATION
Asthma specialist (pulmonologist/allergist)
Indicated when:
- Diagnosis
unclear / poor response
- Life-threatening
exacerbation / ICU admission
- Recurrent
admission, frequent ED visits
- Significant
comorbidities
- Severe
or difficult-to-treat asthma
Social services
- Medication
access
- Adherence
issues
- Environmental
triggers (housing, smoke, pests)
DISCHARGE PLANNING
Discharge criteria
- Symptoms
mild
- SpO₂
≥94%
room air
- Treatment
regimen manageable at home (q4–6 hr)
- Caregiver
demonstrates correct inhaler/nebulizer technique
- Medications
+ follow-up confirmed
- Asthma
education completed
Discharge medications
- SABA
(MDI + spacer หรือ nebulizer)
- Oral
glucocorticoids (complete course)
- Controller
therapy
- Almost
all hospitalized children should receive daily controller
- Step-up
therapy often indicated
Discharge education
- Difference
between controller vs rescue meds
- Proper
inhaler/nebulizer technique
- Trigger
avoidance
- Influenza
vaccination
- Written
Asthma Action Plan
Follow-up
- Within
3–5 days
- Reassess
severity/control
- Adjust
controller therapy
- Taper
SABA frequency
KEY TAKE-HOME POINTS
- Inpatient
asthma care = continuation + close monitoring
- Clinical
assessment สำคัญกว่า SpO₂ อย่างเดียว
- SABA
+ systemic steroids = cornerstone
- Early
recognition of deterioration →
PICU referral