Expert advice
Childhood asthma: treatment options and why it is under-diagnosed
The high prevalence of asthma in the UK – 1 in 11 children – means nurses need better understanding
The UK has some of the highest prevalence, emergency admission and death rates for childhood asthma in Europe
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition associated with airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in its clinical knowledge summary .
It is described as heterogeneous, with different underlying disease processes and variations in severity, clinical course, and response to treatment.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Variable expiratory airflow limitation, which may vary
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