Reducing the Acute Care Burden of Childhood Asthma on Health Services in British Columbia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of giving filled prescription of a medication to be used upon early onset of symptoms of URTI induced asthma. The hope is to reduce the need to present to Health Care centres for treatment.

Detailed Description
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In Canada, asthma affects more the 12% of children. Exacerbation are a common feature of asthma. In children, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI's) are responsible for over 80% of asthma exacerbation. Experts in asthma care acknowledge this critical problem and have developed guidelines to reduce asthma exacerbation. The criteria for participation in this study to have 2 or more presentations to a Health Service centre in the past 12 months for URTI induced asthma. These patients will be followed and interviewed monthly over a 12 month period to investigate whether the use of Oral cortico-steroids upon early onset of URTI induced asthma prevents the need for presentation to hospital

Official Title
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Reducing the Acute Care Burden of Childhood Asthma on Health Services in British Columbia

Conditions
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Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Asthma

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Arm 1 Oral Cortico Steroids


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 2 or more presentations to Emergency department in a 12 month period Exclusion Criteria: less then 2 presentations to Emergency department in a 12 month period

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 12 Months
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Arm 1 Oral Cortico Steroid<br>A filled prescription will be given to be used upon early onset of symptoms. | Drug: Arm 1 Oral Cortico Steroids<br>* Prednisolone: 1 mg / kg per day course of dose for 5 days up to child's weight of 20 kgs. Dexamethasone: 0.3mg/kg per dose for 3 days (minimum weight 20 kgs )<br>* Other names: Prednisone;|
| No Intervention: Usual care for Asthma treatment<br>monitor the readmission of URTI induced asthma in children over a 12 month period | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reduction of representation to Health Services for Exacerbation of URTI induced asthma | To review the effect of medication given at early onset of symptoms have on reducing the presentation to Health Services and Emergency Departments. | One year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Asthma, URTI induced exacerbation of Asthma