Asthma control in adolescents: role of leukotriene inhibitors

Stavroula Giavi, Nikolaos G Papadopoulos
Allergy Department, Second Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and is a big burden worldwide. It affects both children and adults, but it is insufficiently studied in adolescents, although this age group has important peculiarities and is challenging to treat, due to, but not exclusively because of, lack of adherence to treatment instructions. Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of asthma targeting specifically adolescents are lacking, due to the fact that most studies are conducted either on children or in adults. Exercise-induced asthma occurs commonly in adolescents, leading to impaired physical activity. This review describes current treatment options for asthma in adolescents, focusing on leukotriene receptor antagonists, both as a monotherapy and as an add-on therapy for optimal asthma control.

Keywords: asthma control, adolescent, leukotriene antagonists, montelukast, exercise-induced asthma