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As the cold winter cycle sets in, doctors are warning parents to take control and manage their children’s asthma to prevent serious asthma related emergencies. Asthma management is a struggle for parents, particularly in the winter when common cold and flu viruses are rampant and are key triggers for asthma attacks.
According to Dr Dominic Fitzgerald a spokesperson for the National Asthma Council Australia from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, a large proportion of the serious asthma-related children emergencies that occur in winter could be prevented if asthma action plans were adhered to.
Asthma prevalence in Australia is high by international standards, with 14-16% of children and 10-12% of adults currently suffering from asthma.i It is one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions in childrenii and was estimated to account for 3% of the disease burden in Australia in 1996, 1% of years of life lost due to premature death and 5% of years of ‘healthy’ life lost due to poor health or disability. It is estimated to cost $615 million per year.
To help anxious Aussie parents who struggle on a daily basis to control their child’s asthma, a new option is available today which has the potential to improve the way children’s asthma is managed. The asthma inhaler, Alvesco© (ciclesonide), is now available for children 6 years and older and is reimbursed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by prescription.
“Parents often battle with their children to take multiple doses of daily asthma preventative medications and in many cases parents are also anxious about steroid medications affecting a child’s growth” Dr Fitzgerald said.
“Children with asthma may often have allergic rhinitis, better known as hayfever, and can be required to take two different daily medications containing steroids which concerns parents – a steroid nasal spray for hayfever and an inhaled steroid to help prevent asthma attacks“, he said.
Previous studies have shown that parents and children may be reluctant to take inhaled steroids as prescribed if the medication is associated with negative effects.iii A recent survey of Australian parents supported these earlier findings and showed they feared the potential side effects of steroids ranging from stunting growth, addiction and increasing the risk of diseases such as cancer.
“These are valid parental fears which should be taken seriously” said Dr Fitzgerald.
“The doctor’s consultation is critical to explain to parents the potential side effects of different daily medications,” he said.
Australian doctors choose from a range of steroid medications for children with asthma and from today they will have the option of prescribing a novel steroid medication that is taken only once a day for 24 hour control, making it easier for parents to manage.
Children are far better at staying on schedule with medications if it only needs to be taken once a day compared to medication that need to be taken multiple times a day according to the survey. Alvesco is an asthma preventative steroid medication for children and adults that when taken daily, reduces lung inflammation and helps to prevent asthma attacks. Its novel mechanism of action allows it to work only once it hits the patient’s lungs.
AAP