The NICE Asthma Guideline

The National institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) reports it is the body responsible for advising the U.K.'s National Health Service on guidelines for the treatment and care of disease and medical conditions.

Asthma

• The Mayo Clinic explains asthma to be a condition causing the narrowing and swelling of the airways of the human body. This condition can cause symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, and asthma can be life threatening.

Children

• The NICE website reports its guidelines for asthma to include the treatment of children under 5. These guidelines include the treatment of asthma patients with corticosteroids and bronchodilator therapy using a metered dose inhaler.

Older Children

• The guidelines reported by NICE, for older children between the ages of 5 and 15, include the use of a press and breathe inhaler. Health care professionals are advised to offer alternative inhalers where press and breathe inhalers may not be used properly.