M. Slemnik
Oddelek za pediatrijo, Splošna bolnišnica Slovenj Gradec, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenija

U. Krivec
Služba za pljučne bolezni, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

A. Kotnik Pirš
Služba za pulmologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija; Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to identify whether leukotriene receptor antagonists are effective in treating asthma in children. Methods: A two-year retrospective study included all children with an acute asthma exacerbation discharged from the University Children’s Hospital Ljubljana with leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy. We defined their clinical characteristics, length of hospital stay, the need for a change in treatment at follow-up and compliance with treatment. Results: 501 children were hospitalised because of an acute asthma exacerbation between 2013 and 2014. 54 (11%) were treated with leukotriene receptor antagonists alone at discharge. Their mean age was 4.9 years. In 18% of these patients, one of the parents had asthma, 57% were allergic to an inhalatory allergen, 7% to an alimentary allergen, 7% had atopic dermatitis, 37% eosinophilia and 37% had more than one risk factor for asthma. 70% needed oxygen supplementation. The mean duration of hospitalisation was 2.3 days. The treatment was effective in 49%, while in 51% a change in treatment was required. Compliance was 96%. Conclusions: Leukotriene receptor antagonists are non-steroidal drugs, which are suitable for oral treatment of mild asthma and as an add-on therapy when treatment with inhaled corticosteroids alone is insufficient. In the presented study the effectiveness of treatment and compliance to therapy were high.

Key words: Key words: children, airway infection, characteristics, hospitalisation, leukotriene receptor antagonists