RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Use of budesonide Turbuhaler in young children suspected of asthma
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 740
OP 742
DO 10.1183/09031936.94.07040740
VO 7
IS 4
A1 Bisgaard, H
A1 Pedersen, S
A1 Nikander, K
YR 1994
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/4/740.abstract
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.