Asthma affects 1 in 13 individuals (8.4% of the population), and severe cases are becoming more common as allergies—one of the leading triggers—continue to rise.
To address this growing need, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital has launched a Severe Asthma Clinic within its Children’s Pulmonary Institute. This specialized program provides comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents with complex asthma cases.
Miller Children’s & Women’s is one of only two hospitals in California to offer this type of program.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Asthma Care
“Successfully treating kids with asthma in or outside of intensive care units is best approached comprehensively,” says Vincent Devlin, DO, pediatric allergist, Children’s Pulmonary Institute, Miller Children’s & Women’s. “We want to provide the most effective care to hard-to-treat asthmatics, our sickest patients.”
The clinic brings together a team of specialists to create personalized care plans and improve outcomes for children with severe asthma.
Causes and Risk Factors for Severe Asthma
Severe asthma is often influenced by multiple factors.
Common Triggers Include:
- Allergies
- Environmental exposures
- Poor living conditions
- Demographic and social factors
“Potentially life-threatening asthma has the best outcome in patients treated by highly trained multi-disciplinary teams,” adds Bugsu Ovunc, M.D., pediatric pulmonologist, Children’s Pulmonary Institute, Miller Children’s & Women’s.
Signs and Symptoms Parents Should Watch For
Early recognition is key to managing asthma effectively.
Common Symptoms Include:
- Shortness of breath during activity
- Difficulty keeping up with peers
- Chronic or persistent cough
“When examined by a doctor, children will wheeze,” Dr. Ovunc says. “It’s not an audible sound, but we can detect a whistle when they attempt to breathe.”
When Symptoms Are Severe
Children with severe asthma may experience:
- Frequent illness or prolonged colds
- Nighttime coughing that disrupts sleep
- Vomiting due to intense coughing
- Low oxygen levels
- Difficulty speaking in full sentences
- Frequent emergency room visits
“A cold is never just a cold for these kids,” Dr. Ovunc explains. “It seems to their parents as if they are always sick.”
“They cough so hard they cannot sleep at night, they throw up, or their oxygen levels drop,” she explains. “They work so hard to breathe that they can’t talk in full sentences, and they’re taken to the hospital emergency room frequently.”
Advanced Evaluation and Diagnosis
At the Severe Asthma Clinic, each child undergoes a comprehensive evaluation.
Diagnostic Tests May Include:
- Spirometry (breathing tests)
- Medication review
- Full lung examination
- Allergy testing (food, environmental, drug-related)
These tests also help rule out other conditions that mimic asthma, such as:
- Reflux
- Sleep apnea
A Team-Based, “One-Stop” Approach
The clinic’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary care model, ensuring every aspect of a child’s condition is addressed.
Care Team Members May Include:
- Pediatric allergists and pulmonologists
- Respiratory therapists
- Clinical pharmacists
- Pediatric nurses
- Social workers
- Child life specialists
This coordinated approach helps streamline care and improve outcomes for patients and families.
Innovative Treatments for Severe Asthma
New treatment options are improving quality of life for children with severe asthma.
Dr. Ovunc notes that advanced therapies, including biologic medications, can:
- Target symptoms more precisely
- Reduce reliance on steroids
- Minimize unwanted side effects
Recognized Excellence in Pediatric Asthma Care
Dr. Devlin emphasizes the clinic’s commitment to delivering top-tier care:
“In doing so, we’re keeping kids as healthy as they can be.”
MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital is:
- The only free-standing children’s hospital in California to receive
- The Disease-Specific Certification in Pediatric Asthma from The Joint Commission
- One of only 13 hospitals nationwide to earn this distinction
This recognition highlights the hospital’s dedication to quality, innovation, and excellence in asthma care.
