Journal Article

The ‘unified airway’: the RCPCH care pathway for children with asthma and/or rhinitis

Vance, Gillian, Walker, Samantha, Warner, John, Williams, Lynette, Piddock, Cher, Dixon, Lisa, O'Beirne, Claire, Lloyd, Kate, Hughes, Jenny, Scadding, Glenis, Fletcher, Penny, Jewkes, Fiona, Sohi, Dalbir, McKean, Michael, Brown, Trevor, Shields, Michael

2011

Overview

Aims The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Science and Research Department was commissioned by the Department of Health to develop national care pathways for children with allergies: the asthma/rhinitis care pathway is the third such pathway. Asthma and rhinitis have been considered together. These conditions co-exist commonly, have remarkably similar immuno-pathology and an integrated management approach benefits symptom control. Method The asthma/rhinitis pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary working group and was based on a comprehensive review of evidence. The pathway was reviewed by a broad group of stakeholders including the public and was approved by the Allergy Care Pathways Project Board and the RCPCH Clinical Standards Committee. Results The pathway entry points are defined by symptom type and severity at presentation. Acute severe rhinitis and life-threatening asthma are presented as distinct entry routes to the pathway, recognising that initial care of these conditions requires presentation-specific treatments. However, the pathway emphasises that ideal long term care should take account of both conditions in order to achieve maximal improvements in disease control and quality of life. Conclusions The pathway recommends that acute presentations of asthma and/or rhinitis should be treated separately. Where both conditions exist, ongoing management should address the upper and lower airways. The authors recommend that this pathway is implemented locally by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) with a focus on creating networks. The MDT within these networks should work with patients to develop and agree on care plans that are age and culturally appropriate.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health,BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: Acute Disease / Adolescent / Allergies / Allergy / Asthma / Asthma - therapy / Child / Child Health / Child, Preschool / Children & youth / Costs / Critical Pathways - organization & administration / Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration / Disease control / Eczema / Education / Emotional Disturbances / Evidence / Evidence-Based Medicine - methods / Families & family life / Food allergies / Guidelines / Hay fever / Histamine / Humans / Infant / Infant, Newborn / Patient Education / Patients / Professional-Patient Relations / Quality of life / Rhinitis / Rhinitis - therapy / Severity of Illness Index / Societies, Medical / United Kingdom / Viral infections