Asthma care needs boost

The Paediatric Society is calling for urgent action to address the ongoing significant gaps in asthma care in Aotearoa.

Paediatric respiratory specialist Professor Philip Pattemore says research has repeatedly shown that Māori, Pacific peoples and those living in our most disadvantaged communities are more likely to have asthma, be hospitalised for asthma, and die from asthma. 

“Asthma is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions for children and these have increased in recent years, at a time when asthma prevalence appears to have decreased,” Pattemore says. “The challenge is to reduce these admissions using a community management approach.”

Pattemore says asthma preventers are required for children with frequent attacks requiring prednisone or hospitalisation, as well as those with regular day-to-day asthma symptoms. “That is the first and most easily applied step.”

Pattemore says additionally, parents need assistance to quit smoking, to obtain warm, dry housing, and reduce aggravating factors such as hay fever.