Clinical evaluation and treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in children
This update on treatment of asthma exacerbations in children is the result of an Italian Pediatric Society Task-force, made up of a panel of experts working in 2007–2008. The aim is to give clear indications on the use of the drugs most employed in children, grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. Suggestions on their limits due to unlicensed and off-label use are reported. The level of evidence and the strength of recommendations for different therapeutic approaches demonstrate that frequently the use of drugs in children is extrapolated from the experience in adults and that more studies are required to endorse the correct use of different drugs in asthmatic …
Inter-society consensus for the use of inhaled corticosteroids in infants, children and adolescents with airway diseases
Abstract Background In 2019, a multidisciplinary panel of experts from eight Italian scientific paediatric societies developed a consensus document for the use of inhaled corticosteroids in the management and prevention of the most common paediatric airways disorders. The aim is to provide healthcare providers with a multidisciplinary document including indications useful in the clinical practice. The consensus document was intended to be addressed to paediatricians who work in the Paediatric Divisions, the Primary Care Services and the Emergency Departments, as well as to Residents or PhD students, paediatric nurses and specialists or consultants in paediatric pulmonology, allergy, infecti…
The disease-specific clinical trial network for primary ciliary dyskinesia: PCD-CTN
Primary ciliary dyskinesia; Rare genetic disorder; Lung diseases Discinesia ciliar primaria; Trastorno genético raro; Enfermedades pulmonares Discinesia ciliar primària; Trastorn genètic rar; Malalties pulmonars Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by impaired mucociliary clearance leading to irreversible lung damage. In contrast to other rare lung diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF), there are only few clinical trials and limited evidence-based treatments. Management is mainly based on expert opinions and treatment is challenging due to a wide range of clinical manifestations and disease severity. To improve clinical and translational research and facili…
Additional file 2: of Severe asthma features in children: a caseâ control online survey
Criteria for inclusion of children with severe asthma and non-severe persistent asthma. (PDF 25Â kb)
Comments on “Preventive home therapy for symptomatic patients affected by COVID-19 and followed by teleconsultations” by D'Amato et al
We have read with interest the letter from D’Amato et al. entitled “Preventive home therapy for symptomatic patients affected by COVID-19 and followed by teleconsultations”....
Barriers and incentives for Italian paediatricians to become smoking cessation promoters: a GARD-Italy Demonstration Project
Background: Paediatricians rarely devote any time to screening and treatment for parental tobacco use. The present project is part of a Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)-Italy Demonstration Project, aimed to increase the skills of primary care physicians and paediatricians as "promoter of smoking cessation". The aims of this study were: (I) to identify latent classes of barriers and incentives for smoking cessation counseling among paediatricians using latent class analysis (LCA); (II) to investigate risk factors for inclusion into the identified classes. Methods: In 2018, 1,500 Italian paediatricians were invited to complete an online survey on passive smoke expos…
Italian pediatric respiratory society recommendations on pediatric pulmonary function testing during COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2). Person-toperson transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs primarily through close contact with an infected person, mainly occurring via respiratory droplets and after touching contaminated objects. Accordingly, pulmonary function testing (PFT) could be considered at high-risk for viral transmission due to the potential for coughing and droplet formation during PFT procedures. The most likely surfaces for possible contamination by this route are mouthpieces, proximal valves, and tubing. Also, both technic…
Additional file 1: of Severe asthma features in children: a caseâ control online survey
Criteria for exclusion of children with severe asthma and non-severe persistent asthma. (PDF 11Â kb)
Severe asthma features in children: A case–control online survey
Background Very few studies have explored the distinguishing features of severe asthma in childhood in Europe, and only one study was conducted in Southern Europe. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed characterization of children with severe asthma treated in specialized pediatric asthma centers across Italy. Methods We conducted a web-based data collection of family, environmental, clinical and laboratory characteristics of 41 patients aged 6–17 years with severe asthma, defined according to the recent guidelines of the European Respiratory Society and the American Thoracic Society, and 78 age-matched peers with non-severe persistent asthma. The patients have been enrolled from …
Survival of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1.
BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) is a progressive disease and is usually fatal in the first year of life. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of SMA1 patients and their outcomes according to the following choices: letting nature take its course (NT); tracheostomy and invasive mechanical ventilation (TV); continuous noninvasive respiratory muscle aid (NRA), including noninvasive ventilation; and mechanically assisted cough. RESULTS: Of 194 consecutively referred patients enrolled in this study (103 males, 91 females), NT, TV, and NRA were chosen for 121 (62.3%), 42 (21.7%), and 31 (16%) patients, respectively. Survival at ages 24 and 48 months was higher in …