697 The Most Frequent Flaws Regarding the Tending of the Asthma Attack in Children in France

Abstract

Context: Seemingly emergency treatment of episodes of asthma attack suffers from therapeutic attitudes which do not match usual international recommendations. Purpose: During specialised consultations we have aimed to assess the most common flaws regarding the tending of children's asthma exacerbations by our local care dispensers. Method: We opened a prospective data collection of 100 children who had had an asthma attack in the weeks befor the consultation, during the winter 2007/2008. The children are between 2 and 16 years old(average age of 6 years 4 months). The gender ratio is 60% male and 40% female. 49% of them have had their persistent asthma confirmed for more than 6 months, 35% for more than 2 years and the remaining 16% for as long as 5 years. Results: In 39% of cases, short-acting inhaled Beta2-agonists are neither prescribed nor advised. In 68% short course of oral corticosteroids are not resorted to. Combination of long-acting inhaled Beta2-agonist and inhaled corticosteroids are used for treating the attack in 21% of children, usually over a few days long. Several other, non-accredited, alternative treatments(e.g. antihistamins, leukotrien-antagonists, homeopathy) are used in 24% of cases. Conclusions: The tending of asthma exacerbations in children in our area shows: Practical implications: It seems important during Continual Medical Education sessions on child asthma to insist on the distinction to be made between emergency treatment and long-standing medications