Magnesium should be given to all children presenting to hospital with acute severe asthma

Mon Ohn; Stephen Jacobe

doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2014.05.004

Magnesium should be given to all children presenting to hospital with acute severe asthma

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2014 Dec;15(4):319-21. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2014.05.004. Epub 2014 Jun 5.

Authors

Mon Ohn¹, Stephen Jacobe²

Affiliations

¹ Advanced Trainee in Respiratory Medicine and General Paediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.
² Senior Staff Specialist, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, and Clinical Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. Electronic address: Stephen.Jacobe@health.nsw.gov.au.

PMID: 24973263
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2014.05.004

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic condition affecting children worldwide and acute exacerbations requiring emergency medical management are common. In addition to corticosteroids, a number of drugs may be used in the management of acute severe asthma aiming to reverse bronchoconstriction. Magnesium sulphate - either inhaled or intravenous - may be added to conventional therapy of children with acute severe asthma. Despite its safety profile and effectiveness, the use of magnesium sulphate has been inconsistent due to lack of consensus. The authors believe that the accumulating evidence of a favorable 'cost benefit' profile justifies the use of magnesium for all children presenting with acute severe asthma.

Keywords: Acute severe asthma; children; magnesium sulphate; status asthmaticus; treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Administration, Inhalation
Administration, Intravenous
Asthma / drug therapy*
Child
Humans
Magnesium Sulfate / administration & dosage*

Substances

Magnesium Sulfate