Biomaterial Database

Safety of bronchodilator therapy in pediatric asthma patients. 1994

J E Selcow

Department of Pediatrics, Hartford Hospital, Connecticut.

This article reviews the drugs used in the treatment of childhood asthma (bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents) from the perspective of their safety and clinical tolerability. Adverse events observed in adults are likely to be seen to a greater degree in children and adolescents for many types of antiasthma drugs. It is clear that current therapy in childhood asthma is based on finding an optimal balance between efficacy and risk of side effects. In this regard, the fast-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonists, exemplified by albuterol, find a prominent place in therapy. Inhaled corticosteroids are also effective and well-tolerated first-line agents. Other bronchodilators (theophylline, ipratropium, slow-acting beta 2-agonists) and anti-inflammatory agents (cromolyn, nedocromil) should be added as required to control the condition, always keeping risk/benefit considerations in mind.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010366	Peak Expiratory Flow Rate	Measurement of the maximum rate of airflow attained during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination. Common abbreviations are PEFR and PFR.	Expiratory Peak Flow Rate,Flow Rate, Peak Expiratory,PEFR
D001993	Bronchodilator Agents	Agents that cause an increase in the expansion of a bronchus or bronchial tubes.	Bronchial-Dilating Agents,Bronchodilator,Bronchodilator Agent,Broncholytic Agent,Bronchodilator Effect,Bronchodilator Effects,Bronchodilators,Broncholytic Agents,Broncholytic Effect,Broncholytic Effects,Agent, Bronchodilator,Agent, Broncholytic,Agents, Bronchial-Dilating,Agents, Bronchodilator,Agents, Broncholytic,Bronchial Dilating Agents,Effect, Bronchodilator,Effect, Broncholytic,Effects, Bronchodilator,Effects, Broncholytic
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005541	Forced Expiratory Volume	Measure of the maximum amount of air that can be expelled in a given number of seconds during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination . It is usually given as FEV followed by a subscript indicating the number of seconds over which the measurement is made, although it is sometimes given as a percentage of forced vital capacity.	Forced Vital Capacity, Timed,Timed Vital Capacity,Vital Capacity, Timed,FEVt,Capacities, Timed Vital,Capacity, Timed Vital,Expiratory Volume, Forced,Expiratory Volumes, Forced,Forced Expiratory Volumes,Timed Vital Capacities,Vital Capacities, Timed,Volume, Forced Expiratory,Volumes, Forced Expiratory
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000318	Adrenergic beta-Agonists	Drugs that selectively bind to and activate beta-adrenergic receptors.	Adrenergic beta-Receptor Agonists,beta-Adrenergic Agonists,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists,Adrenergic beta-Agonist,Adrenergic beta-Receptor Agonist,Betamimetics,Receptor Agonists, beta-Adrenergic,Receptors Agonists, Adrenergic beta,beta-Adrenergic Agonist,beta-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist,Adrenergic beta Agonist,Adrenergic beta Agonists,Adrenergic beta Receptor Agonist,Adrenergic beta Receptor Agonists,Agonist, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Agonist, beta-Adrenergic,Agonist, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Agonists, Adrenergic beta-Receptor,Agonists, beta-Adrenergic,Agonists, beta-Adrenergic Receptor,Receptor Agonist, beta-Adrenergic,Receptor Agonists, beta Adrenergic,beta Adrenergic Agonist,beta Adrenergic Agonists,beta Adrenergic Receptor Agonist,beta Adrenergic Receptor Agonists,beta-Agonist, Adrenergic,beta-Agonists, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Agonist, Adrenergic,beta-Receptor Agonists, Adrenergic
D000893	Anti-Inflammatory Agents	Substances that reduce or suppress INFLAMMATION.	Anti-Inflammatory Agent,Antiinflammatory Agent,Agents, Anti-Inflammatory,Agents, Antiinflammatory,Anti-Inflammatories,Antiinflammatories,Antiinflammatory Agents,Agent, Anti-Inflammatory,Agent, Antiinflammatory,Agents, Anti Inflammatory,Anti Inflammatories,Anti Inflammatory Agent,Anti Inflammatory Agents
D001249	Asthma	A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).	Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas
D012449	Safety	Freedom from exposure to danger and protection from the occurrence or risk of injury or loss. It suggests optimal precautions in the workplace, on the street, in the home, etc., and includes personal safety as well as the safety of property.	Safeties