Asthma and other respiratory conditions in Children and Adolescents (Nurse)

This course focuses on identifying and managing paediatric presentations of commonly seen respiratory symptoms. The first unit outlines the definition of asthma and asthma patterns including risk factors, common triggers and diagnosis. Unit two focuses on the management of asthma including assessing symptoms and triggers, discussing goals of management, choosing the initial treatment and periodically reviewing/adjusting treatment based on recent symptom control. The stepped approach to adjusting medication for children aged 1-5 years and 6-11 years, including how to manage acute asthma are discussed in detail. Information on croup and bronchiolitis conditions including clinical features, assessment, examination of severity, investigations, differential diagnoses and its management are covered in the following unit. The final unit outlines the definition and aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The diagnosis, investigations, management and possible indications for admission of this condition are discussed.

This course is evidence-based, demonstrates best practice and is regularly updated.

Relevance to Nurses:

Asthma is a common respiratory condition characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways. In 2017–18, an estimated 10% (around 460,000) of Australian children aged 0–14 had asthma as a long-term condition.
Croup is inflammation of the upper airway, larynx and trachea, usually triggered by a virus. Occurs generally between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.
Bronchiolitis is a viral lower respiratory tract infection, generally affecting children <12 months of age. It is a clinical diagnosis, based on typical history and examination findings.
Pneumonia can be defined clinically as the presence of fever, cough and tachypnoea at rest (and retractions in younger children). “Complicated pneumonia” occurs when there is a complication such as parapneumonic effusion, empyema, lung abscess or necrotising pneumonia.
Primary care providers are at the front line of asthma management and have the crucial role of early identification and management of uncontrolled asthma. A subspecialised severe asthma service offers the advantage of a structured, multidimensional approach to confirm the diagnosis, asthma severity and phenotype and manage risk factors and comorbidities. This multidimensional approach often involves a team of respiratory physicians, nurses and allied health professionals.