Skip to main content
PMC home page
Italian Journal of Pediatrics logoLink to Italian Journal of Pediatrics
. 2018 Apr 6;44:46. doi: 10.1186/s13052-018-0481-1

Guideline on management of the acute asthma attack in children by Italian Society of Pediatrics

Luciana Indinnimeo 1,✉, Elena Chiappini 2, Michele Miraglia del Giudice 3; The Italian Panel for the management of acute asthma attack in children Roberto Bernardini
PMCID: PMC5889573  PMID: 29625590

Abstract

Background

Acute asthma attack is a frequent condition in children. It is one of the most common reasons for emergency department (ED) visit and hospitalization. Appropriate care is fundamental, considering both the high prevalence of asthma in children, and its life-threatening risks.

Italian Society of Pediatrics recently issued a guideline on the management of acute asthma attack in children over age 2, in ambulatory and emergency department settings.

Methods

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was adopted. A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library and Medline/PubMed databases, retrieving studies in English or Italian and including children over age 2 year.

Results

Inhaled ß2 agonists are the first line drugs for acute asthma attack in children. Ipratropium bromide should be added in moderate/severe attacks. Early use of systemic steroids is associated with reduced risk of ED visits and hospitalization. High doses of inhaled steroids should not replace systemic steroids. Aminophylline use should be avoided in mild/moderate attacks. Weak evidence supports its use in life-threatening attacks. Epinephrine should not be used in the treatment of acute asthma for its lower cost / benefit ratio, compared to β2 agonists. Intravenous magnesium solphate could be used in children with severe attacks and/or forced expiratory volume1 (FEV1) lower than 60% predicted, unresponsive to initial inhaled therapy. Heliox could be administered in life-threatening attacks. Leukotriene receptor antagonists are not recommended.

Conclusions

This Guideline is expected to be a useful resource in managing acute asthma attacks in children over age 2.

Keywords: Asthma, Asthma attack, Children, Guidelines

Background

Acute asthma attack is a frequent condition in children. It is one of the most common reasons for emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization [1]. It can be triggered by viral infections, atypical bacteria (i.e. Mycoplasma pneumoniae) infections, allergens and/or air pollutants, including tobacco smoke, medications, physical exercise, and stress and emotions [1]. Acute asthma attack can occur as a first episode in undiagnosed children or in children with a previous asthma diagnosis and an uncontrolled disease despite therapy [2]. Indeed, despite advances in therapy, asthma remains a disease that is not optimally controlled in many children [2]. Asthma attacks can be particularly recurrent or life-threatening and increasingly expensive in unresponsive children [2].

The multidisciplinary ISP panel recently issued a new guideline on the management of acute asthma attack in children over age 2, in ambulatory and ED settings, using the GRADE methodology [3]. The guideline aims to deliver up to date scientific evidence and recommendations to pediatricians, general practitioners, Emergency Medicine Physicians, and nurses.

Methods

This Guideline was issued by the ISP, jointly with the Italian Society of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases, the Italian Society of Pediatric Immunology and Allergology, and the Italian Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. The document was developed by a multidisciplinary panel of clinicians and experts in evidence-based medicine who were identified with the help of the participating scientific societies. Specifically, the panel included experts in the fields of general pediatrics, emergency medicine, epidemiology, nursing practice, pharmacology, research methodology, and a member of the parents’ association FEDERASMA. No panel member declared any conflict of interest.

The panel met in two occasions, and many of the consultations involved in the guideline development and draft processes took place interactively by e-mail or phone. The panel members first defined the objectives of the guideline, the essential clinical questions, and the appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria for the studies from which evidence would be derived. They also identified the information sources and biomedical databases that would be consulted, and the search terms that would be used in constructing the search strategy.

The objective of the guideline was to optimize the management of acute asthma attack in children over age 2, in ambulatory and emergency department settings. This guideline was not intended for children aged 2 years or younger, with acquired or congenital immunodeficiency, major pre-existing, chronic heart or lung disease, and should not be used to treat children admitted to hospital ward or to intensive care unit (ICU).

The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach [3].

Literature search

Literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library and Medline/PubMed databases, using appropriated key words and retrieving studies published between January 2009 and December 2016, including children aged more than 2 years. The results of this search were then evaluated and selected based on both methodology and relevance. An updated literature search was performed before preparing the final draft; this search identified no additional relevant publications.

Study selection, levels of evidence, and strength of recommendations

The selection of studies, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by specially trained personnel, following the GRADE methodology [3]. Briefly, evidence was evaluated according to six categories: 1) risk of bias, 2) inconsistency, 3) indirectness, 4) imprecision, 5) publication bias, and 6) other criteria. Quality of the studies can be up- or down-graded due to magnitude factors, limitations in any of the aforementioned categories or other factors [3]. Finally, 4 levels of quality of evidence were indicated (high, moderate, low, very low). Subsequently, balances were assessed between benefit and harm, patients’ values and preferences, cost and resources, and feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, and recommendations were formulated considering 4 grades of strength (Positive-strong; Positive-weak; Negative -strong; Negative-weak) [3]. A strong recommendation was worded as “we recommend” or “it should…” and a weak recommendation as “we suggest” or “it could…” The full text of the guidelines and all the related documents are available at the website of the ISP (www.sip.it).

Results

Clinical and objective assessment

History should be collected very carefully since it is an extremely important tool to predict the severity of exacerbations and the risk for hospitalization. Symptoms are poorly related to the severity of airway obstruction. Therefore, objective evaluations (i.e. pulse oximetry; peak expiratory flow; FEV1; blood gas measurement) should be considered [4–14]. However, the value of pulmonary function parameters in the assessment of patients with respiratory distress is modest [4–15]. Only three high quality studies are available [11–13]. One is a systematic review of 60 studies showing that none of the available score are validated in the clinical practice [11]. The other one is an observational prospective study including 101 children, aged > 6 years, demonstrating that the Clinical Asthma Score was not related to the spirometry results [12]. More recently Eggink and collaborators performed a prospective, high quality study, reviewed and validated clinical scores for dyspnoea severity in children, and authors concluded that the commonly used dyspnoea scores have insufficient validity and reliability to allow for clinical use without caution [13].

Levels of severity of the acute asthma attack and indications for hospitalization are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. It should be underlined considering that low oxygen saturation, especially after initial bronchodilator treatment, allows the identification of patients with more severe asthma [2, 16, 17]. Respiratory physiology studies showed that in mild acute asthma attack, PaCO2 values are usually normal. Increasing values of PaCO2 may be an ominous sign of impending respiratory failure, in presence of respiratory distress [2, 16, 17].

Table 1.

Management of acute asthma attack in children

graphic file with name 13052_2018_481_Tab1_HTML.jpg

Open in a new tab

Note. PEF is expressed as percentage of personal best. Not all parameters have to be abnormal, but a single abnormality may be sufficient to classify a patient into a severity class. The severity category may change when more information is available or over time

Table 2.

Conditions requiring hospitalization

Signs and symptoms of acute respiratory failure
Worsening of clinical parameters after bronchodilator treatment
SatO2 < 92% after bronchodilator treatment
PEF < 60% predicted after bronchodilator treatment
Concomitant complications (pneumothorax, atelectasies, pneumonia)
Severe asthma itself, irrespective of worsening;
History of previous severe life-threatening asthma episodes, or previous admission to ICU
Open in a new tab

Recommendation

Level of severity should be assessed considering both clinical and objective evaluations, including pulse oximetry, peak expiratory flow or FEV1. Blood gas measurement should be reserved only to more severe attacks.

Positive strong recommendation

Treatments

Oxygen

Numerous studies have confirmed that hypoxia is almost always present during acute asthma attack, its degree depending on the severity of the episode [2, 14–17]. Therefore monitoring the blood oxygenation level, mainly through pulse oxymetry, is fundamental in order to select children who deserve oxygen therapy. Oxygen saturation should be obtained when the patient is breathing room air. However, it is not necessary to cease oxygen therapy to measure pulse oximetry, if it has already been started. Clinical judgment should be applied in any circumstance [2, 16, 17].

Recommendation

Humidified oxygen therapy using a tight fitting face mask or nasal cannula should be administered to children with severe acute asthma attack and/or SpO2 < 92%. Flow rates and oxygen concentration may be released by specific Venturi mask and should be sufficient to achieve saturations of ≥ 95%.

Positive strong recommendation

Inhaled short-acting ß2 agonists

Inhaled short-acting ß2 agonists are the first line treatment for acute asthma attack in children. Salbutamol is a useful medication that can be used in children of all ages. Inhaled via is the traditional route of administration [18]. Salbutamol given continuously via nebulizer was not associated with a better outcome with respect to frequent intermittent administration, in a systematic review, dating back to 2003 and including only one pediatric study [19, 20]. In 2013 Cochrane including 1897 children and 729 adults in 39 trials, Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDI) with spacer was considered the preferred option for delivering ß2 agonists in children with mild to moderate asthma attack [21].

Salbutamol dose to be administered through MDI with spacer should be individualized according to the asthma attack severity: 200–400 μg/dose (2–4 puffs/dose) could be sufficient in mild attacks. Children with severe asthma should receive frequent doses of nebulised bronchodilators (2.5 to 5 mg of salbutamol), driven by oxygen, given the risk of oxygen desaturation while using air-driven compressors. Once improving on two- to four-hourly salbutamol, patients should be switched to a MDI with spacer [16, 17, 22].

Recommendation

Salbutamol is the first line treatment for acute asthma attack in children. In severe attack it should be administered frequently, up to 3 times every 20–30 min within the first hour.

Positive strong recommendation

Recommendation

MDI with spacer should be used to delivery ß2 agonists in children with mild to moderate asthma attack. Children with severe asthma should receive frequent doses of nebulised bronchodilators (2.5 to 5 mg of salbutamol), driven by oxygen.

Positive strong recommendation

Intravenous short-acting ß2 agonists

Literature data regarding iv short-acting ß2 agonists use are poor. No consistent evidence favoring the use of iv short-acting ß2-agonists for patients with acute asthma were evidenced in a 2012 Cochrane including 2 pediatric studies on children (one in ICU) [23].

Some authors suggest the use of iv salbutamol in addition of long-acting ß2 agonists in children with severe asthma attack unresponsive to initial therapy [23]. The recommended dose is a single bolus of 15 μg/kg (diluition: 200 μg/mL for central iv line; 10–20 μg/mL for peripheral iv line) over 10 min, followed by continuous infusion of 0.2 μg/kg /min. Higher doses (1–2 μg/kg/min up to 5 μg/kg/min) can be administered in unresponsive children [2, 16]. Intravenous salbutamol should be given in the ICU with continuous ECG and twice daily electrolyte and lactate monitoring [17].

Recommendation

Salbutamol could be administered intravenously (iv) in children with asthma attack not responding to initial therapy.

Positive weak recommendation

Recommendation

Children receiving iv salbutamol should be admitted to intensive care unit with continuous ECG and twice daily electrolyte and lactate monitoring.

Positive strong recommendation

Ipratopium bromide

Ipratopium bromide induces a slower broncodilator response than ß2 agonists, but the combination of the two medications produces a synergic effect. In severe attack the recommended nebulized dose is 125–250 μg/dose (in children < 4 years of age) to 250–500 μg/dose (in children ≥ 4 years of age), in combination with nebulized salbutamol. It should be administered frequently, up to 3 times every 20–30 min, within the first hour. The ipratropium dose should be tapered to 4 to 6 hourly or discontinued [17]. Once ipratropium bromide is discontinued, salbutamol dose should be tapered to one- to two-hourly thereafter according to clinical response.

A 2012 Cochrane review [24] including four trials on 173 children found that treatment failure on anticholinergics alone was more likely than when anticholinergics were combined with short-acting ß2 agonists (OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.88). Authors concluded that inhaled anticholinergic drugs alone are not appropriate for use as a single agent in children with acute asthma exacerbations. In a subsequent 2013 Cochrane review [25], including 15 studies with 2497 children, the addition of an anticholinergic to a SABA significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization (RR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.85). Fewer children treated with anticholinergics plus short-acting ß2 agonists reported nausea and tremors compared to short-acting ß2 agonists alone; no significant group difference was observed for vomiting. Authors conclude that inhaled anticholinergics given in addition to β2-agonists are effective in reducing hospitalizations in children arriving in ED with a moderate to severe asthma exacerbation [25]. Only one study yielded a different result, however it should be noticed that MDI plus spacer was used [26]. It was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled, equivalence trial in a tertiary pediatric ED, including 347 children, and showing that the addition of ipratropium bromide was not significantly associated with a reduction in admission rates [26]. In a 2014 Cochrane review, including 4 studies on 472 children admitted to pediatric wards, no evidence of benefit for length of hospital stay nor other markers of response to therapy was noted when nebulised anticholinergics were added to short-acting β2-agonists [27].

Recommendation

Nebulized inhaled ipratropium bromide, given in addition to short-acting β2-agonists, should be administered in children with a moderate to severe asthma attack.

Positive strong recommendation

Steroids

Systemic steroids (SS) have been reported to be effective in the treatment of acute asthma attack in children, with no difference between oral or intravenously/intramuscle route of administration [28]. Therefore the oral steroids are preferable, in the absence of vomiting. Dexamethasone, prednisone, and prednisolone are equally effective even if dexamethasone is associated with a higher risk of vomiting [28]. A recent open randomized trial [29] and one meta-analysis including 6 pediatric studies [30] demonstrated no different efficacy between prednisone and dexamethasone in children with acute asthma attack. However, this meta-analysis concludes that “emergency physicians should consider single or 2-dose dexamethasone regimens over 5-day prednisone/prednisolone regimens for the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations”, due to easier administration and less side effects with dexamethasone [30]. A recent meta-analysis including 18 studies with a total of 2438 participants assessed the efficacy and safety of any dose or duration of oral steroids versus any other dose or duration of oral steroids for adults and children with an asthma exacerbation [31]. Literature data was not sufficient to discriminate whether shorter or lower-dose regimens are less effective than longer or higher-dose regimens, or indeed more adverse events are associated with the latter. Thus, authors underline that some regimen characteristics including palatability, regimen duration, and costs should be considered in order to improve adherence in individual patients [31]. Another recent meta-analysis, including 10 RCT in children, concluded that dexamethasone is likely to have less adverse effects than others corticosteroids, and similar efficacy in reducing hospitalizations and revisits [32].

Considering the time needed to induce gene expression and protein synthesis, the majority of pharmacological effects of steroid are not immediate, but are evident some hours after their intake. However, glucocorticoids can have rapid effects on inflammation which are not mediated by changes in gene expression [33]. Therefore their efficacy is optimized by an early use. Accordingly, an inverse association between time of administration and risk of hospitalization has been reported in a systematic review [34]. Steroid intake within the first hour from admission to the ED was associated with a significantly reduced time spent in the ED and a lower hospitalization rate [33].

The optimal duration of steroid therapy is unclear, some experts would suggest prolonging this therapy for 3 to 5 days, with no need to taper the dose at the end, particularly using molecules with short or intermediate half- life [34]. In a recent review acute single or recurrent systemic short-term (< 2 weeks) steroids in children with asthma exacerbations did not show any concern about short-term adverse effects [35].

However, it is important to underline the long-term risks caused by recurrent administration of oral steroids in children with asthma. Literature data report that children who require more than four courses of oral corticosteroids as treatment for underlying disease, including asthma, are at increased risk of fracture [36]. Furthermore, the CAMP study demonstrated that multiple oral corticosteroid bursts over a period of years can produce a dose-dependent reduction in bone mineral accretion and increased risk of osteopenia in children with asthma [37].

Recommendations

Systemic steroids (SS) should be used in the moderate to severe acute asthma attack in order to reduce the hospitalization rate and the risk of recurrence. Oral course, should be preferred in children able to retain drugs orally.

Positive strong recommendation

Inhaled steroids

Six randomized controlled trials, overall including 1302 children, and 4 systematic reviews [38–47] were evidenced through the literature search. Moreover other important studies, although published before 2009, have been considered [48]. Higher clinical efficacy of inhaled high-dose corticosteroids (ICS) with respect to the placebo was observed in one randomized controlled trials (RCT) [38]. The addition of nebulized high-dose budesonide was evaluated in adjunction to standard therapy without oral steroids in children with moderate-to-severe acute asthma exacerbation [38]. Complete remission rate was significantly higher (84.7% vs. 46.3%; P = 0.004) and need for oral corticosteroids was significantly lower (16.9% vs. 46.3%, P = 0.011) in the group receiving budesonide than in control group [38].

Two RCTs, whose results have been reported in three manuscripts [39–41], showed that addition of high dose ICS to standard asthma attack therapy, including SS, was not associated with clinical improvement after one and 2 h. However, in one study, it was associated with a decreased admission rate of children with severe acute asthma [40].

Two randomized clinical trials compared the effectiveness of high-dose of ICS vs, SS [42, 43], the results showed that ICS and SS have the same efficacy to improve clinical symptoms. However, one study [38] showed that in the group treated with high doses of budesonide (800 μg/ 20 min) there was an increase in the percentage of children discharged from hospital after 2 h compared to the group treated with prednisolone (2 mg/kg).

A systematic review including eight studies published between 1995 and 2006 [44] showed no differences in the treatment with high-dose ICS or SS regarding admission rates, ED visits and rescue medications.

Two Cochrane reviews [45, 46], including both adult and pediatric studies, conclude that there is insufficient evidence that ICS treatment results in clinically important changes in pulmonary function or clinical scores when used in acute asthma in addition to SS [45, 46]. Therefore there is insufficient evidence that ICS therapy can be used in place of SS therapy when treating acute asthma [45, 46]. A 2012 Cochrane Review [47] evaluated the effectiveness of the ICS treatment after discharge from ED and concluded that ICS provides no additional benefit to standard therapy with SS in the post-discharge treatment of children with acute asthma. In conclusion, there was some evidence that high doses of ICS can be as effective as SS in the post-discharge treatment of children with acute asthma. However, it should be noticed that the settings where the trials have been performed - including specifically dedicated nurses and/or doctors - are difficult to replicate in the everyday practice in ED or ambulatory. In such situations, prudently, SS should be preferred. In addition, higher cost of ICS should be considered.

Recommendation

  • High doses of ICS should not be used instead of SS in asthma attack.

Negative strong recommendation

  • Children treated with ICS can continue to use the usual doses of ICS during the asthma attack.

Positive strong recommendation

Aminophylline

Several studies are available comparing the efficacy of aminophylline in different clinical settings (i.e. aminophylline compared to placebo when added to inhaled β2-agonists, or compared to iv salbutamol in more severe attacks) [49]. In a recent review results from 12 RCTs, involving 586 children, and comparing aminophylline with placebo or usual treatment were summarized [49]. Improvement in clinical severity scores was found in 3 RCTs but not confirmed in other six, while 2 RCTs showed improved lung function scores and two did not [49]. One trial showed that iv aminophylline reduced ICU admission rates, but no trial evidenced any benefit of aminophylline on length of hospital or ICU stay [49]. Seven out of these 12 trials have been included in a 2005 Cochrane review [50]. This review concluded that intravenous aminophylline improved lung function within 6 h of treatment, but did not appear to reduce symptoms or length of hospital stay, and there was insufficient evidence to evaluate its impact on ICU rates [50]. In conclusion, in the setting of moderate asthma attack, the association of aminophylline to inhaled β2 agonists and steroids in acute asthma does not offer substantial benefits [49, 50].

In the setting of severe asthma attacks data of the literature comparing iv salbutamol with iv aminophylline are poor [49, 51], and no substantial difference of efficacy emerges between the two drugs. In particular, iv aminophylline and salbutamol (or terbutaline) have been compared, head-to-head, in 4 RCTs including 202 children [49]. In three trials no different clinical severity scores were reported between iv salbutamol and iv aminophylline. Moreover no difference was observed in the one study reporting ICU admission rates and in two RCTs reporting length of hospital stay [49]. No study reported lung function outcomes. These paediatric studies have been included in a subgroup analysis in a Cochrane review [51], concluding that there was no consistent evidence to help decide between iv aminophylline and iv salbutamol as therapy of choice. In a recent study, a single i.v. dose of magnesium sulphate, added to inhaled β2 agonist and SS, was more useful and safe than iv aminophylline in 100 children with severe acute asthma [52]. In summary, the administration of iv aminophylline can be considered in addition to usual care in patients with impending respiratory failure and in those who have shown a good response to the drug in the past [2, 16, 17]. Serum levels measurements are needed, especially in patients already being treated with oral aminophylline [2, 16, 17]. Few studies are available regarding the use of low dose of aminophylline but further data are needed regarding this issue [53].

Recommendation

Aminophylline should not be used in mild to moderate acute asthma.

Negative strong recommendation

Recommendation

Iv Salbutamol or iv aminophylline could be used in severe acute asthma in children non-responder to inhaled β2 agonist and oral corticosteroids. There are no significant differences between the two treatments.

Positive weak recommendation

Epinephrine

Epinephrine does not offer any advantages compared to β2 agonist in the treatment of acute asthma and is associated with a greater risk of side effects, especially in hypoxemic patients. Epinephrine could be used if β2agonists are not available [2, 16, 17].

Recommendation

Epinephrine should not be used in the treatment of acute asthma for its lower cost / benefit ratio, compared to β2 agonists.

Negative strong recommendation

Magnesium sulphate

The childhood experiences are still limited and related to the use of a single dose of 25–40 mg/kg iv. In a recent RCT of moderate quality [54] in 143 children with severe asthma, the intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate during the first hour was associated to a significant decrease in the number of patients who required mechanical ventilation. In a pharmacokinetic study [55] in 19 children with severe asthma, a bolus of magnesium sulphate (50–75 mg/kg), followed by continuous infusion (40 mg/kg/h) for 4 h, was safe and maintained appropriated levels of Mg in serum.

There are conflicting data about the use of nebulized MgSO4 in addition to β2 agonists in asthma exacerbations [56, 57].

One RCT that included 508 children with severe acute asthma [58] compared the effect of nebulized magnesium sulphate to placebo. In the treated group there was a statistically significant improvement in asthma score after 60 and 240 min. However, the clinical relevance of this finding is uncertain. No serious adverse event was observed in 19% of patients in the Mg group and in 20% of the controls. Moreover, the study concludes there might be a role for nebulised MgSO4 in children with a severe exacerbation whose SaO2 in air after the first nebulised treatment remains below 92%, and in those with a shorter duration of symptoms [58]. Similarly a role of nebulised MgSO4 has been considered by other authors [59], but further studies are needed at this regard.

A recent RCT evaluated the effect of nebulized MgSO4, on FEV1 and PEF in children with asthma induced by acetylcholine [60]. The nebulized MgSO4 showed a wide bronchodilator effect but the rise in FEV1 and PEF was not superior to salbutamol. There is no evidence to support that the combination of salbutamol and magnesium sulphate displays a synergistic effect. No significant adverse event risk was reported.

A recent meta-analysis [61] including 5 studies (182 children) demonstrated that treatment with iv MgSO4 reduced the odds of admission to hospital by 68%. Adverse events have not been reported consistently with magnesium sulphate therapy.

Recommendation

MgSO4 could be used intravenously in children with severe asthma not responding to the initial treatment. MgSO4 could be also used if FEV1 is less than 60% predicted, after the first hour.

Positive weak recommendation

Recommendation

Nebulized MgSO4 should not be used in mild, moderate or severe asthma, since the available evidence is poor.

Negative strong recommendation

Heliox

A gas mixture containing helium / oxygen (Heliox) can decrease respiratory failure and improve ventilation in patients with airway obstruction. The use of this mixture is not indicated in mild-moderate asthma. It can be used as an alternative to oxygen in severe asthma not responding to the initial treatment [62].

According to results of a systematic review of 5 pediatric RCT (1996–2010) and 143 children, there are insufficient data to support the routine use of heliox in acute asthma. In particular, not benefits in terms of rate/length of hospitalization, nor percentage of children requiring intubation have been demonstrated [63]. However, it is a safe therapy, and some data suggest that it may be beneficial to patients with severely impaired lung function. A systematic review and meta-analysis [64], including 3 pediatric studies and 113 children, showed that heliox used as a vehicle to deliver β2 agonist (compared to oxygen) was associated with improvement of acute asthma, especially in most severe attacks. It also was associated with reduced need for hospitalization [64].

Notably, to administer the heliox, a non-rebreathing high-flow system is needed. Heliox needs a high flow of oxygen to the appropriate sized particles.

Recommendation

A helium-oxygen mixture (70%: 30%) could be used in severe asthma unresponsive to standard therapy.

Positive weak recommendation

Leukotriene modifiers

A Cochrane review was available including 1470 adults and 470 children (aged 2–12), treated for acute asthma in ED and randomized to receive montelukast or placebo in addition to standard therapy [65]. No statistically significant difference was found in the risk of hospitalization with the use of oral montelukast in addition to standard therapy [65]. These results have been recently confirmed by Wang and colleagues in one trial comparing montelukast versus placebo in 117 children, aged 2 to 5 years, demonstrating no difference in PEF and lung function improvement [66].

Recommendation

Leukotriene modifiers in addition to standard therapy should not be used.

Negative strong recommendation

Conclusions

This guideline is an updated tool for the management of acute asthma attack in children over age 2. The review of the literature supports the use of salbutamol as the most appropriate β2 agonist. Adding ipratropium bromide is an effective aid in moderate and severe attack. Oral corticosteroids should be used in moderate-to-severe acute asthma attacks to prevent hospitalizations and symptom relapse. Adding steroids to the moderate and severe attacks is more effective if administered at an early stage. Intravenous steroids should be reserved for selected children who are unable to take oral medications. High doses of inhaled steroids should not replace systemic steroids. Aminophylline use is not recommended in mild to moderate acute asthma attacks. Weak evidence supports its use in life-threatening attacks.Epinephrine should not be used in the treatment of acute asthma for its lower cost / benefit ratio, compared to β2 agonists. The use of iv MgSO4 could be considered only in children with severe asthma attack who are unresponsive to initial treatment and/or who have FEV1 less than 60% predicted, after 1 h of standard therapy. Helium-oxygen mixture (70%:30%) can be used in severe asthma attack unresponsive to standard therapy. Leukotriene modifiers are not currently recommended.

Acknowledgments

Members of the Italian Panel for the management of acute asthma attack in children: Roberto Bernardini (Empoli), Carlo Capristo (Naples), Fabio Cardinale (Bari), Salvatore Cazzato (Ancona), Giampiero Chiamenti (Verona), Iolanda Chinellato (Taranto), Giovanni Corsello (Palermo), Renato Cutrera (Rome), Liviana Da Dalt (Padova), Marzia Duse (Rome), Filippo Festini (Florence), Sandra Frateiacci (Rome), Domenico Minasi (Polistena - Reggio Calabria), Andrea Novelli (Florence), Giorgio Piacentini (Verona), Pietro Scoppi (Spoleto - Perugia), Eleonora Tappi (Turin).

Funding

We have no funding to declare.

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Authors’ contributions

LI, EC, MMDG performed searched literature, coordinated and supervised the other authors’ works, and drafted the manuscript. SC, IC, CC, PS, ET performed search literature and analyses of studies’ quality. All the authors participated in group discussions and helped to draft the manuscript and approved the final version.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contributor Information

Luciana Indinnimeo, Phone: 39-06-49979302, Email: luciana.indinnimeo@uniroma1.it.

The Italian Panel for the management of acute asthma attack in children Roberto Bernardini:

Carlo Capristo, Fabio Cardinale, Salvatore Cazzato, Giampiero Chiamenti, Iolanda Chinellato, Giovanni Corsello, Renato Cutrera, Liviana Da Dalt, Marzia Duse, Filippo Festini, Sandra Frateiacci, Domenico Minasi, Andrea Novelli, Giorgio Piacentini, Pietro Scoppi, and Eleonora Tappi

References

  • 1.Indinnimeo L, Barbato A, Cutrera R, et al. Gestione dell’attacco acuto d’asma in età pediatrica. Ital J Pediatr. 2008;33:14–33. [Google Scholar]
  • 2.. National Health, Lung and Blood Institute. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Publication n. 95–3659, 1995 Bethesda, Maryland, revised 2015.
  • 3.Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Vist GE, Kunz R, Falck-Ytter Y, Alonso-Coello P, Schünemann HJ. GRADE working group. GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Br Med J. 2008;336:924–926. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39489.470347.AD. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Boychuk RB, Yamamoto LG, De Mesa CJ, et al. Correlation of initial emergency department pulse oximetry values in asthma severity classes (steps) with the risk of hospitalization. Am J Emerg Med. 2006;24:48–52. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2005.07.012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Koga T, Tokuyama K, Itano A, et al. Usefulness of modified pulmonary index score (mPIS) as a quantitative tool for the evaluation of severe acute exacerbation in asthmatic children. Allergol Int. 2015;64:139–144. doi: 10.1016/j.alit.2014.10.003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Maekawa T, Oba MS, Katsunuma T, et al. Modified pulmonary index score was sufficiently reliable to assess the severity of acute asthma exacerbations in children. Allergol Int. 2014;63:603–607. doi: 10.2332/allergolint.13-OA-0681. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Alnaji F, Zemek R, Barrowman N, et al. PRAM score as predictor of pediatric asthma hospitalization. Acad Emerg Med. 2014;21:872–878. doi: 10.1111/acem.12422. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Kamps AW, Veeger NJ, Heijsman SM, et al. An innovative childhood asthma score predicts the need for bronchodilator nebulization in children with acute asthma independent of auscultative findings. Respir Care. 2014;59:1710–1715. doi: 10.4187/respcare.02991. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Gouin S, Robidas I, Gravel J, et al. Prospective evaluation of two clinical scores for acute asthma in children 18 months to 7 years of age. Acad Emerg Med. 2010;17:598–503. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2010.00775.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Lehr AR, McKinney ML, Gouin S, et al. Development and pretesting of an electronic learning module to train health care professionals on the use of the pediatric respiratory assessment measure to assess acute asthma severity. Can Respir J. 2013;20:435–441. doi: 10.1155/2013/148645. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Bekhof J, Reimink R, Brand PL. Systematic review: insufficient validation of clinical scores for the assessment of acute dyspnoea in wheezing children. Peadiatr Respir Rev. 2014;15:98–12. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2013.08.004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Schneider WV, Bulloch B, Wilkinson M, et al. Utility of portable spirometry in a pediatric emergency department in children with acute exacerbation of asthma. J Asthma. 2011;48:248–252. doi: 10.3109/02770903.2011.555036. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Eggink H, Brand P, Reimink R, Bekhof J. Clinical scores for Dyspnoea severity in children: a prospective validation study. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0157724. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157724. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Arnold DH, Jenkins CA, Hartert TV. Noninvasive assessment of asthma severity using pulse oximeter plethysmograph estimate of pulsus paradoxus physiology. BMC Pulm Med. 2010;29:10–17. doi: 10.1186/1471-2466-10-17. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Arnold DH, Gebretsadik T, Moons KG, et al. Development and internal validation of a pediatric acute asthma prediction rule for hospitalization. J Allerly Clin Immunol Pract. 2015;3:228–235. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2014.09.017. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.National Hearth, Lung and Blood Institute . Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3) N Y: Guidelines for the diagnosis and Management of Asthma; 2007. pp. 08–4051. [Google Scholar]
  • 17.British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network . “British guideline on the Management of Asthma”. Revised. 2016. [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Andrzejowski P, Carroll W. Salbutamol in paediatrics: pharmacology, prescribing and controversies. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2016;101:194–197. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307285. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Camargo CA, Spooner CH, Rowe BH. Continuous versus intermittent beta-agonists for acute asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;4:CD001115. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001115. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Khine H, Fuchs SM, Saville AL. Continuous versus intermittent nebulized albuterol for emergency management of asthma. Acad Emerg Med. 1996;3:1019–1024. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1996.tb03346.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Cates CJ, Welsh EJ, Rowe BH. Holding chambers (spacers) versus nebulisers for beta-agonist treatment of acute asthma. Cochrane database Syst rev. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;9:CD000052. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000052.pub3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Mitselou N, Hedlin G, Hederos CA. Spacers versus nebulizers in treatment of acute asthma - a prospective randomized study in preschool children. J Asthma. 2016;53:1059–1062. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2016.1185114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Travers AH, Milan SJ, Jones AP, et al. Addition of intravenous beta(2)-agonists to inhaled beta(2)- agonists for acute asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD010179. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Teoh L, Cates CJ, Hurwitz M, et al. Anticholinergic therapy for acute asthma in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;4:CD003797. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003797.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Griffiths B, Ducharme FM. Combined inhaled anticholinergics and short-acting beta2-agonists for initial treatment of acute asthma in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;8:CD000060. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000060.pub2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Wyatt EL, Borland ML, Doyle SK, et al. Metered-dose inhaler ipratropium bromide in moderate acute asthma in children: a single-blinded randomised controlled trial. J Paediatr Child Health. 2015;51:192–198. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12692. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Vézina K, Chauhan BF, Ducharme FM. Inhaled anticholinergics and short-acting beta(2)-agonists versus short-acting beta2-agonists alone for children with acute asthma in hospital. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;7:CD010283. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010283.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Keeney GE, Gray MP, Morrison AK, et al. Dexamethasone for acute asthma exacerbations in children: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2014;133:493–499. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-2273. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Cronin JJ, McCoy S, Kennedy U, et al. A randomized trial of single-dose oral dexamethasone versus multidose prednisolone for acute exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 2016;67:593–501. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.08.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Meyer JS, Riese J, Biondi EI. Dexamethasone an effective alternative to oral prednisone in the treatment of pediatric asthma exacerbations? Hosp Pediatr. 2014;4:172–180. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2013-0088. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Normansell R, Kew KM, Mansour G. Different oral corticosteroid regimens for acute asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;5:CD011801. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011801.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Bravo-Soto GA, Harismendy C, Rojas P, Silva R, von Borries PI. Dexamethasone as effective as other corticosteroids for acute asthma exacerbation in children? Medwave. 2017;17:e6931. doi: 10.5867/medwave.2017.6931. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Rhen T, Cidlowski JA. Antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids-new mechanisms for old drugs. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:1711–1723. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra050541. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Bhogal SK. A question of time: systemic corticosteroids in managing acute asthma in children. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2013;19:73–78. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e32835b590a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Fernandes RM, Oleszczuk M, Woods CR, et al. The Cochrane library and safety of systemic corticosteroids for acute respiratory conditions in children: an overview of reviews. Evid Based Child Health. 2014;3:733–747. doi: 10.1002/ebch.1980. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.van Staa TP, Cooper C, Leufkens HG, Bishop N. Children and the risk of fractures caused by oral corticosteroids. J Bone Miner Res. 2003;18:913–918. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.2003.18.5.913. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Kelly HW, Van Natta ML, Covar RA, Tonascia J, Green RP, Strunk RC. CAMP research group. Effect of long-term corticosteroid use on bone mineral density in children: a prospective longitudinal assessment in the childhood asthma management program (CAMP) study. Pediatrics. 2008;122:e53–e61. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-3381. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Chen AH, Zeng GQ, Chen RC, et al. Effects of nebulized high-dose budesonide on moderate-to-severe acute exacerbation of asthma in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Respirology. 2013;18(Suppl 3):47–52. doi: 10.1111/resp.12168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Alangari AA, Malhis N, Mubasher M, et al. Asthma diagnosis and treatment - 1012. The efficacy of budesonide in the treatment of acute asthma in children: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. World Allergy Organ J. 2013;6(Suppl 1):P12. doi: 10.1186/1939-4551-6-S1-P12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Alangari AA, Malhis N, Mubasher M, et al. Budesonide nebulization added to systemic prednisolone in the treatment of acute asthma in children: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Chest. 2014;145:772–778. doi: 10.1378/chest.13-2298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Upham BD, Mollen CJ, Scarfone RJ, et al. Nebulized budesonide added to standard pediatric emergency department treatment of acute asthma: a randomized, double-blind trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2011;18:665–673. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01114.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Demirca BP, Cagan H, Kiykim A, et al. Nebulized fluticasone propionate, a viable alternative to systemic route in the management of childhood moderate asthma attack: a double-blind, double-dummy study. Respir Med. 2015;109:1120–1125. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.07.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Arulparithi CS, Babu TA, Ravichandran C, et al. Efficacy of nebulised budesonide versus oral prednisolone in acute severe asthma. Indian J Pediatr. 2015;82:328–332. doi: 10.1007/s12098-014-1498-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Beckhaus AA, Riutort MC, Castro-Rodriguez JA. Inhaled versus systemic corticosteroids for acute asthma in children. A systematic review. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014;49:326–334. doi: 10.1002/ppul.22846. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Quon BS, Fitzgerald JM, Lemière C, et al. Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;12:CD007524. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007524.pub2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Edmonds ML, Milan SJ, Camargo CA, Jr, et al. Early use of inhaled corticosteroids in the emergency department treatment of acute asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD002308. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002308.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47.Edmonds ML, Milan SJ, Brenner BE, et al. Inhaled steroids for acute asthma following emergency department discharge. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD002316. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002316.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 48.Schuh S, Dick PT, Stephens D, Hartley M, Khaikin S, Rodrigues L, et al. High-dose inhaled fluticasone does not replace oral prednisolone in children with mild to moderate acute asthma. Pediatrics. 2006;118:644–650. doi: 10.1542/peds.2005-2842. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 49.Neame M, Aragon O, Fernandes RM, et al. Salbutamol or aminophylline for acute severe asthma: how to choose which one, when and why? Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2015;100:215–222. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306186. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 50.Mitra A, Bassler D, Goodman K, Lasserson TJ, Ducharme FM. Intravenous aminophylline for acute severe asthma in children over two years receiving inhaled bronchodilators. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;2:CD001276. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001276.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 51.Travers AH, Jones AP, Camargo CA, Jr, et al. Intravenous beta(2)-agonists versus intravenous aminophylline for acute asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD010256. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 52.Singhi S, Grover S, Bansal A, et al. Randomised comparison of intravenous magnesium sulphate, terbutaline and aminophylline for children with acute severe asthma. Acta Paediatr. 2014;103:1301–1306. doi: 10.1111/apa.12780. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53.NS EJ, O'Hagan A, Bickel S, Morton R, Jacobson S, Myers JA. Anti-inflammatory dosing of theophylline in the treatment of status asthmaticus in children. Asthma Allergy. 2016;9:183–189. doi: 10.2147/JAA.S113747. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 54.Torres S, Sticco N, Bosch JJ, et al. Effectiveness of magnesium sulphate as initial treatment of acute severe asthma in children, conducted in a tertiary-level university hospital: a randomized, controlled trial. Arch Argent Pediatr. 2012;110:291–296. doi: 10.5546/aap.2012.eng.291. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 55.Egelund TA, Wassil SK, Edwards EM, et al. High-dose magnesium sulphate infusion protocol for status asthmaticus: a safety and pharmacokinetics cohort study. Intensive Care Med. 2013;39:117–122. doi: 10.1007/s00134-012-2734-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 56.Mangat HS, D’Souza GA, Jacob MS. Nebulized magnesium sulphate versus nebulized salbutamol in acute bronchial asthma: a clinical trial. Eur Respir J. 1998;12:341–344. doi: 10.1183/09031936.98.12020341. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 57.Mahajan P, Haritos D, Rosenberg N, et al. Comparison of nebulized magnesium plus albuterol to nebulized albuterol plus saline in children with mild to moderate asthme. J Emerg Med. 2004;27:21–25. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2004.02.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 58.Powell CV, Kolamunnage-Dona R, Lowe J, et al. MAGNEsium trial in children (MAGNETIC): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial and economic evaluation of nebulised magnesium sulphate in acute severe asthma in children. Health Technol Assess. 2013;17:1–216. doi: 10.3310/hta17450. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 59.Albuali WH. The use of intravenous and inhaled magnesium sulphate in management of children with bronchial asthma. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2014;27:1809–1815. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2013.876620. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 60.Sun YX, Gong CH, Liu S, et al. Effect of inhaled MgSO4 on FEV1 and PEF in children with asthma induced by acetylcholine: a randomized controlled clinical trail of 330 cases. J Trop Pediatr. 2014;60:141–147. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmt099. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 61.Griffiths B, Kew KM. Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating children with acute asthma in the emergency department. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4:CD011050. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011050.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 62.Rodrigo G, Pollack C, Rodrigo C, et al. Heliox for nonintubated acute asthma patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;4:CD002884. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002884.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 63.Wong JJ, Lee JH, Turner DA, et al. A review of the use of adjunctive therapies in severe acute asthma exacerbation in critically ill children. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2014;8:423–441. doi: 10.1586/17476348.2014.915752. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 64.Rodrigo GJ, Castro-Rodriguez JA. Heliox-driven β2-agonists nebulization for children and adults with acute asthma: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014;112:29–34. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2013.09.024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 65.Watts K, Chavasse RJ. Leukotriene receptor antagonists in addition to usual care for acute asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;5:CD006100. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006100.pub2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 66.Wang X, Zhou J, Zhao X, Yi X. Montelukast treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in children aged 2 to 5 years: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2017; June 7; [DOI] [PubMed]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Articles from Italian Journal of Pediatrics are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES