Diagnosing asthma in children under 5 | Right Decisions

Right Decisions
Asthma pathway (BTS, NICE, SIGN) [SIGN 244]
Back
Diagnosis
Diagnosing asthma in children under 5

Update your RDS mobile app to v4.7.1 to download toolkits even when website is down.

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. You will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon in the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively update to the latest release - RDS app version 4.7.1 - to see this improvement.

Updating to this latest version of the RDS app is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new resilience arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits. To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

This content is from the BTS, NICE and SIGN guideline - Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management, (SIGN 245), 2024.

Diagnosis is hard in this age group because it is difficult to do the tests and there are no good reference standards.

R

1.3.1. For children under 5 with suspected asthma, treat with inhaled corticosteroids in line with the recommendations on medicines for initial management in children under 5, and review the child on a regular basis. If they still have symptoms when they reach 5 years, attempt objective tests (see the section on objective tests for diagnosing asthma in adults, young people and children aged 5 to 16).

[NICE 2017]

R

1.3.2 If a child is unable to perform objective tests when they are aged 5:

try doing the tests again every 6 to 12 months until satisfactory results are obtained
refer for specialist assessment if the child’s asthma is not responding to treatment.

[NICE 2017, BTS/SIGN 2019, BTS/NICE/SIGN amended 2024]

R

1.3.3 Refer to a specialist respiratory paediatrician any preschool child with an admission to hospital, or 2 or more admissions to an emergency department, with wheeze in a 12-month period.

[BTS/NICE/SIGN 2024]