Status Asthmaticus Course Overview

Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses of childhood. The incidence of asthma in the pediatric population has increased in the past 30 years. While the severity of the disease varies from mild to severe, all patients with asthma are at risk for developing status asthmaticus. Recognizing when manifestations are indicative of worsening asthma allows the clinician to intervene sooner.

Upon course completion, learners should be able to provide quality, evidence-based care to the patient experiencing a severe acute asthma exacerbation.

Objectives

• Review the respiratory system and pathophysiology of asthma, including risk factors, patient assessment, key indicators, and asthma classification
• Recognize the presenting signs and symptoms of severe asthma exacerbation in the pediatric patient
• Use an evidence-based clinical scoring system to assess the severity of asthma in the pediatric patient
• Outline the medical management of status asthmaticus or severe acute asthma exacerbation across the continuum of care, as the patient transitions from the ED to the PICU
• Describe respiratory support strategies to manage the airway needs of a pediatric patient with severe acute asthma exacerbation or status asthmaticus