Pharmacological Management of Pediatric Critical Asthma

Abstract

Pediatric critical asthma, formerly known as status asthmaticus, is a common pediatric condition encountered in emergency departments, hospital wards, and PICUs. Systemic corticosteroids and inhaled bronchodilators are evidence-based, initial treatments for patients with pediatric critical asthma. If clinical symptoms do not improve, then pediatric practitioners often prescribe adjunctive medications, including inhaled anticholinergics, intravenous ketamine, intravenous magnesium, intravenous short-acting β₂ agonists, and intravenous methylxanthines (eg, aminophylline). In this narrative review, we summarize the current evidence and present the research gaps related to these therapies in the pediatric population.

Keywords: aminophylline; bronchodilator agents; critical care; glucocorticoids; ketamine; magnesium; pediatrics; status asthmaticus; terbutaline.