Pre-school viral wheeze in primary care

doi:10.1136/dtb.2007.45317

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2007;45:17-20; doi:10.1136/dtb.2007.45317

Pre-school viral wheeze in primary care

Relevant BNF sections: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Each year in the UK, around a quarter of pre-school-aged children(i.e. those aged 1–5 years) present to a GP with wheeze.¹In most of these children, wheeze is episodic and associatedwith viral infection of the respiratory tract.² Here we reviewdiagnosis, assessment, treatment options and preventive strategiesin pre-school children with viral wheeze.