monitoring child asthma in primary care

Last reviewed 01/2018

Asthma is best monitored in primary care by routine clinical review on at least an annual basis.
The factors that should be monitored and recorded include:

• symptom score, eg Children’s Asthma Control Test, Asthma Control Questionnaire
• exacerbations, oral corticosteroid use and time off school/nursery due to asthma since last assessment
• inhaler technique
• adherence, which can be assessed by reviewing prescription refill frequency
• possession of and use of self management plan/personalised asthma action plan
• exposure to tobacco smoke
• growth (height and weight centile) (1).

Reference:

• (1) British Thoracic Society (BTS)/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 2011. British Guideline on the Management of Asthma. A national clinical guideline