The range of easy-to-use Easyhalers will save the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds as they are a fraction of the cost of current dry-powder inhalers.
They will also simplify asthma management by allowing doctors to prescribe two popular asthma drugs - salbutamol and budesonide - from the same type of dry powder inhaler for the first time.

Cher Piddock, Asthma Nurse Specialist for Asthma UK, says: 'Asthma is a very serious condition. As least three children in every classroom will have asthma and the equivalent of a classroom of children will die every year as a result of their condition. This means that it is extremely important to make sure that children are given the support they need to manage their asthma effectively.

'Children with asthma may experience many challenges throughout their time at school including the need to raise awareneness of the severity of their condition and how to help manage it to teachers and fellow pupils. Any inhaler which makes it easier and more discrete for a child to take their medicine can be seen as a positive step forward.

'Importantly, children need to be taught how to use their inhaler and this must be checked on a regular basis.'

Famous asthmatics include David Beckham, England footballer Frank Lampard, marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, the actresses Lindsay Lohan and Elizabeth Taylor, plus pop star Pink.

Easyhaler is available on prescription from GPs.
•For more information contact www.asthma.org.uk or call the Adviceline on 0800 121 6244 where specialist asthma nurses are available.
 
Asthma Factfile
§ Asthma is the most common long-term condition in childhood and the UK has some of the highest rates of asthma symptoms in children worldwide.
§ Asthma affects on average 3 children in every classroom - that's 1 in 10 or 1.1 million children in the UK.
§ The equivalent of a classroom full of children dies every year from asthma in the UK.
§ One in 6 parents of children with asthma believe that people's attitudes towards their child's asthma stops them from taking part in exercise/sports
§ A third of children with asthma say that their condition can result in them being left out of sports activities at school and nearly a quarter of children with asthma miss six or more days of school as a result of the condition.
§ 1 in 8 children under 15 with asthma symptoms experience attacks so severe they can't speak.
§ Every 17 minutes a child is admitted to hospital in the UK because of their asthma
§ Asthma is one of the top five causes of emergency hospital admissions among children in England
§ These sports have built in breaks so may be easier to do for asthmatics: badminton, volleyball and tennis.

 Femalefirst Haleema Shabir

Tagged in