Long-term conditions: asthma in children.
Respiratory tract infections, such as rhinovirus, can trigger asthma symptoms and lead to asthma exacerbations, which can constitute a medical emergency. Emergency admission data for asthma exacerbation in children reflect the dates of the return-to-school calendar, when children become more exposed to infection. While general practice nurses (GPNs) have recognised this pattern of asthma exacerbation in children for some time, there has been a lack of evidence around the factors that cause such alterations to patients’ airway pathophysiology. Unfortunately, avoiding exposure to viral respiratory infections is impossible, therefore this article examines how optimum asthma management is vital in reducing the impact of infection on the patient’s airways.
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