Assessment of asthmatic child inhalation device technique

Introduction: In Portugal, asthma is a very common disease, particularly in pediatric age, and many children are treated with medications delivered by inhalation devices. It is known that child inhaler technique is often throughout the world. Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the performance of asthmatic child device technique in a Portuguese children hospital in the city of Porto, (Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte - CMIN). Methods: The authors assessed inhalation device technique of children aged 6 to 18 years, according to standardized checklists, (similar to those on the Aerosol Drug Management Improvement Team (ADMIT) Website) between September and October 2016, during follow-up of pediatric pneumology consultations in CMIN. Results: Twenty one children met the inclusion criteria and 22 inhalation devices assessments were made. The majority (86%) used dry-powder inhalers; the most common error was failure to exhale before actuation (in 61%). Discussion/Conclusion: Our results confirm a relatively high percentage of children failing in their performance in the use of the inhalation devices. Pediatricians and primary care physicians should assess the inhalation technique of asthmatic children regularly, in order to ensure a good asthma control in the pediatric age.