Q&A with Dr. Susan Waserman
(NC)—According to a recent survey, Paediatric Asthma in Canada – developed by Leger Marketing, working with the Asthma Society of Canada (ASC) – it seems Canadian parents of children with asthma may be lacking a sense of urgency and concern about the severity and management of their child's disease, resulting in potential health risks to their children.
As a healthcare professional who specializes in this area, Dr. Susan Waserman sees children with asthma who are not being properly managed far too often. To provide some insight on this issue, Dr. Waserman answers some questions about asthma control in children.
Q: What are some signs that would indicate that your child's asthma is not being managed properly?
Dr. Waserman (W): It is very important that parents take asthma seriously, even if it is considered mild. Ongoing symptoms, unscheduled doctors appointments, and emergency room visits, are some of the signs that your child's asthma is not controlled and may be undertreated. It could also mean that there is an issue with compliance, as some parents may not recognize the need for daily and ongoing asthma treatment and do not administer medication as prescribed.
Q: What immediate solutions would you recommend to parents of children with uncontrolled asthma?
Dr. W: Administering medication as prescribed is an important factor in managing your child's asthma. An Asthma Action Plan is also an excellent resource. It includes information about your child's medication, how to deal with signs of trouble and emergency steps to take. Parents should speak to their doctor or healthcare professional about developing a plan that works for their family. They will also advise you on what may be triggering your asthma.
Q: Do asthma medications limit growth?
Dr. W: Growth is a real worry for parents, especially with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), which are commonly used as a first-line treatment for daily management of asthma. Health Canada recently approved Alvesco for the treatment of children six to 11 years of age. Alvesco is a once-daily ICS treatment that has a favourable safety and tolerability profile. It is important for parents to know that uncontrolled asthma will affect growth. As always, parents are encouraged to discuss treatment with their doctor.
Q: Where can parents find information on the management of childhood asthma?
Dr. W: Parents can speak to their doctor or other healthcare professional to get more information. The ASC has recently updated its two main websites for children (www.asthmakids.ca) and adolescents (www.airsquare.ca).
Dr. Susan Waserman is an allergist in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON.
Source: www.newscanada.com
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