Assessment and management of asthma exacerbations in an emergency department unit.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score is a useful tool for the assessment of asthma exacerbations in children. This study aimed to estimate the risk of hospitalization in children, assessed with the PRAM score and having mild-moderate asthma exacerbation, who were treated with salbutamol delivered via a metered-dose inhaler and spacer (MDI/S). METHODS: The study population consisted of children aged 3-16 years with mild-moderate asthma exacerbations. All children received 1mg/kg prednisolone p.o. (max 40 mg) and 4-6 puffs of salbutamol via MDI/S. RESULTS: Fifty patients participated in the study. Admission was associated positively with the initial PRAM score (OR 18.91, CI 2.42-123.12, P = 0.005) and negatively with the improvement in PRAM score (OR 0.52, CI 0.01-0.78, P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: PRAM is a reliable tool that can be used effectively to estimate the asthma exacerbation severity.