children s health issues
Wheezing in Infants and Young Children
Treatment
For flare-ups, bronchodilators and sometimes corticosteroids For severe wheezing, daily use of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs used for asthma Infants and young children who have flare-ups of wheezing are given an inhaled bronchodilator (such asalbuterol) and, if the wheezing is severe, corticosteroids (such asprednisone) given by mouth or vein. Children who are unlikely to develop persistent asthma, such as children who do not have signs of allergies or a family history of allergies or asthma and whose episodes of wheezing are relatively mild and infrequent, usually require only inhaled bronchodilators used as needed to control their symptoms. Most young children with more frequent and/or severe episodes of wheezing are helped by as-needed use of bronchodilators and by daily use of anti-inflammatory drugs that are used for asthma ( see Chronic asthma ). Although daily use of a leukotriene modifier (such as 