Pediatric Pulmonology 2020 year in review: Asthma

Abstract

Pediatric asthma is a heterogeneous and common chronic condition with significant morbidity and burden on the healthcare system. Despite advances in the field, the disease has proven to be increasingly complex to diagnose and management strategies are constantly evolving. Studies from 2020 have advanced the field even further, particularly with regard to new methods of diagnosis and monitoring, treatment of severe asthma, modifiable risk factors like exercise and obesity, aerosol delivery, and viral respiratory infections contributing to the development of asthma. Continued studies are needed to improve our care for children with asthma and we look forward to future advances. This article is part of our 2020 "Year in Review" series, in which we summarize publications in major topic areas, in the context of selected literature from other journals relevant to our discipline. K E Y W O R D Saerosol biology, asthma and early wheeze, epidemiology, special dimensions of pulmonary medicine Asthma is a common chronic illness in the pediatric population that can be difficult to both diagnose and treat effectively. Research in 2020 has advanced the field of pediatric asthma within the domains of diagnostic testing and monitoring, disease management, severe asthma and exacerbations, aerosol delivery, lifestyle and social determinants of health, and the effect of early viral infections. This article is part of our 2020 "Year in Review" series, in which we summarize publications in major topic areas, in the context of selected literature from other journals relevant to our discipline.

Influence of Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation on the Risk of Asthma or Wheeze in Children: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Asthma and wheeze (asthma/wheeze) is a respiratory syndrome which mainly occurs in early childhood (1)(2)(3). The pathogenesis of asthma/wheeze is complicated, which involves a variety of inflammatory cells and cytokines, leading to chronic airway inflammation, airway hypersensitivity, and bronchial airflow limitation (4,5).…”

“…The pathogenesis of asthma/wheeze is complicated, which involves a variety of inflammatory cells and cytokines, leading to chronic airway inflammation, airway hypersensitivity, and bronchial airflow limitation ( 4 , 5 ). According to epidemiological studies, the incidence of asthma/wheeze is increasing in recent decades, which has become an important threat to the health of the global population, particularly for the children and adolescents ( 1 , 2 ). Therefore, identification of effective preventative strategy for asthma/wheeze is of great clinical significance ( 6 ).…”

Better COVID-19 Outcomes in Children with Good Asthma Control

“…Asthma is the most prevalent chronic lung condition in childhood [1]. The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), thus provoked a major concern among parents of affected children and their healthcare providers.…”

Relationship Between Birth Weight and Asthma Diagnosis: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Based on the National Survey of Children’s Health in the U.S.

“…The aetiology and diagnosis of this disease are highly complex, and management strategies are still evolving. 3 …”