PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - H Bisgaard
AU  - S Pedersen
AU  - K Nikander
TI  - Use of budesonide Turbuhaler in young children suspected of asthma
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.94.07040740
DP  - 1994 Apr 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 740--742
VI  - 7
IP  - 4
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/4/740.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/4/740.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1994 Apr 01; 7
AB  - The question addressed in this study was the ability of young children to use a dry-powder inhaler, Turbuhaler. One hundred and sixty five children suspected of asthma, equally distributed in one year age-groups from 6 months to 8 yrs, inhaled from a Pulmicort Turbuhaler, 200 micrograms budesonide-dose-1, through a filter. The amount of drug trapped by the filter was used as a measure of drug released to the patient. None of the children had prior experience in the use of a Turbuhaler, but they were instructed carefully, together with their parents, in the clinic. The median dose released revealed an age-dependent increase, with a considerable scatter. Accordingly, the dose delivered could not be predicted in these young children. The limitation to effective use in young children appeared to be lack of sufficient co-operation, rather than physical limitations, as even some very young children appeared to obtain a sufficient activation of the device. It is likely that repeated training at home may improve these findings. In conclusion, our results indicate that dry-powder inhalers are not reliable in all circumstances for treatment of young children, and that careful and repeated tuition is required if such devices are to be used.