Asthma

Key points: -Ask about common triggers for asthma like smoke or allergens as well as medication adherence -Asthma is a clinical diagnosis but ancillary tests like PFTs may help -Symptom frequency and severity can help you classify the asthma as intermittent versus persistent -Learn about controller/maintenance therapy, including the new SMART therapy -Learn about steroid use for acute exacerbations as well as next line medications like magnesium, ipratropium, and epinephrine Supplemental information: NIH 2020 guideline updates: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/147/6/e2021050286 Peds in review 2019: https://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/40/11/549 Asthma control test: https://www.greenhillspeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Asthma-Control-Test-4-to-11-years.pdf GINA 2020 Pocket Guide: https://ginasthma.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Main-pocket-guide_2020_04_03-final-wms.pdf NIH Guidelines 2007: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/guidelines-for-diagnosis-management-of-asthma JAMA 2021 guideline update summary: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2780356