The asthma preventer treatments in adolescents 12 years+ CPG is a new CPG developed by the CPG Committee and endorsed by the Paediatric Improvement Collaborative (Sept 2022). Key areas the CPG comprehensively covers are: initiating therapy using an anti-inflammatory reliever-based regimen (or traditional SABA and inhaled ICS); stepping up or down therapy; and an approach for asthma not responding to treatment.  

CPG key points:  

1.  Any adolescent with asthma should be on a treatment regimen that includes an ICS. Prescribing SABA treatment (ie salbutamol) alone is no longer recommended 
2. For most adolescents with asthma, treatment can be started with as-needed (reliever) combination of an ICS and a LABA 
3. Adolescents well controlled on traditional treatment with SABA and inhaled ICS, should not be changed without consulting the adolescent’s care team or a senior clinician 
4. Treatment can be stepped up and down according to response. Never cease an adolescent’s ICS completely 
5. Always check inhaler technique, compliance and contributing factors before dose adjustment 

There are also two new asthma CPGs in development: pre-school wheeze and asthma for 5–12 years, as well as an update of the current acute asthma CPG.