HelplineAsthma and the Early Years: A guideline-informed approach to managing preschool wheeze and asthma in young children
Written by Professor Helen Brough, Paediatric Allergy Consultant and Joint Allergy / Respiratory Clinic co-lead at the Evelina London Children’s Allergy Service
Asthma remains one of the most common chronic conditions in childhood, affecting 1 in 11 children in the UK. Diagnosing and managing asthma in children under 5 is uniquely challenging due to overlapping wheezing phenotypes, variable response to treatment and limited diagnostic tools. The 2024 unified BTS/SIGN/NICE asthma guideline (NG245) now replaces earlier guidelines – such as NICE NG80 (2017) and SIGN 158 (2019) – and offers clearer direction for clinicians managing young children with suspected or confirmed asthma.
This article synthesises the latest evidence with practical insights from paediatric allergy and respiratory practice, offering a roadmap for healthcare professionals navigating early years asthma.