Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Clinical trial now enrolling to evaluate efficacy of inhalers for pediatric asthma patients

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Norton Children’s Pulmonology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is actively recruiting adolescent participants who meet criteria for a clinical trial of two inhaled treatments for asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6 million children in the United States have asthma. Even with sufficient symptom management, asthma exacerbations…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Low pediatric asthma readmissions help Norton Children’s Hospital earn No. 38 U.S. News & World Report ranking for pulmonology and lung surgery

Care provided by Norton Children’s Pulmonology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, helped Norton Children’s Hospital earn the No. 38 U.S. News & World Report ranking for pulmonology and lung surgery in 2022, aided in part by low pediatric asthma readmission rates. The program has expanded its testing for asthma to help lower readmission…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

When to refer a pediatric asthma patient to a pulmonologist

When should a pediatrician refer an asthma patient to a pulmonologist? Primary care providers can help manage treatment for a child’s mild asthma, but when the patient’s symptoms exceed routine care or simple maintenance, it’s time to make a referral. “If a patient is taking their medications and avoiding triggers, and their asthma still is…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Pediatric asthma treatment guideline updates provide new strategies for clinicians

For the first time in 13 years, the national asthma treatment guidelines were updated with several new recommendations and options for pediatric asthma therapy. In December 2020, the recommendations highlighted updates in diagnosis, management and treatment of asthma. The new guidelines represent substantial progress not only in understanding and managing asthma in children, but in…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary, Research

Insurance-driven inhaler changes have a negative impact on asthma control in children

Children on Medicaid in Kentucky who experience asthma may have had a tougher time managing their symptoms following a payer-initiated formulary change that led to the use of a different inhaler device, according to a recent study. A formulary change undertaken in August 2016 by a Medicaid payer in Kentucky eliminated coverage of beclomethasone dipropionate,…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Cystic fibrosis drug approved for children ages 6 and older

A new cystic fibrosis treatment is now available for children ages 6 to 11. The drug Trikafta was previously prescribed only to children 12 and older. In June, the Food and Drug Administration approved Trikafta (a three-drug combination of elexacaftor, ivacaftor and tezacaftor) after clinical trials with younger patients showed the treatment generally had the…

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Case Study, COVID-19, Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Case study: Diagnosing underlying asthma after COVID-19 infection in child

The patient A 3-year-old twin girl with a history of prematurity (32 weeks gestational age), intubated for five days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and who developed pneumothorax as a neonate, was referred to the pediatric pulmonology clinic with dyspnea with activity following a symptomatic COVID-19 infection three months prior to presentation. She…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

When to refer a child with severe asthma

Children and teens experiencing severe cases of asthma face unique challenges living in the Louisville area. Louisville is routinely among the most challenging cities to live with asthma and among the top cities with emergency room visits for asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. If a child you are treating has…

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Neuroscience, Orthopedics, Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Cerebral palsy multidisciplinary clinic opens downtown

A new multidisciplinary cerebral palsy clinic for children who need a higher level of care has opened in the Novak Center for Children’s Health in downtown Louisville. The clinic aims to streamline care, make appointments easier for families and improve outcomes. “Multidisciplinary clinics allow one patient to be seen by multiple doctors instead of the…

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COVID-19, Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Returning to classrooms could increase vaping-related risks of COVID-19 and lung injury

With kids returning to in-classroom instruction, the availability of vaping products and the peer pressure to use them could increase. That adds to the risks of developing COVID-19 as well as e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI). A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that those ages 13 to 24…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Helping your pediatric patients adhere to their asthma action plans

Establishing an asthma action plan for your pediatric patients is a great first step, but helping them and their families adhere to it could be even more important. Self-management through an asthma action plan that guides patients in adjusting their medication improves quality of life, reduces use of health care and leads to fewer days…

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Pediatric Services, Pulmonary

Helping kids have active lives and the chance to chase their dreams

Scott G. Bickel, M.D., had received an undergraduate degree in computer science when he decided he’d rather be interacting with patients than computer screens. Now a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist with Norton Children’s Pulmonology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, Dr. Bickel devotes much of his work to cystic fibrosis, pulmonary function testing, medical education…

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