PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sukeshi Makhecha
AU  - Angela Jamalzadeh
AU  - Samantha Irving
AU  - Pippa Hall
AU  - Samatha Sonnappa
AU  - Sejal Saglani
AU  - Andrew Bush
AU  - Louise Fleming
TI  - Paediatric severe asthma biologics service: from hospital to home
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320626
DP  - 2021 Feb 13
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - archdischild-2020-320626
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/14/archdischild-2020-320626.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/14/archdischild-2020-320626.full
AB  - Children with severe asthma may be treated with biologic agents normally requiring 2–4 weekly injections in hospital. In March 2020, due to COVID-19, we needed to minimise hospital visits. We assessed whether biologics could be given safely at home. The multidisciplinary team identified children to be considered for home administration. This was virtually observed using a video link, and home spirometry was also performed. Feedback was obtained from carers and young people. Of 23 patients receiving biologics, 16 (70%) families agreed to homecare administration, 14 administered by parents/patients and 2 by a local nursing team. Video calls for omalizumab were observed on 56 occasions, mepolizumab on 19 occasions over 4 months (April–July). Medication was administered inaccurately on 2/75 occasions without any adverse events. Virtually observed home biologic administration in severe asthmatic children, supported by video calls and home spirometry, is feasible, safe and is positively perceived by children and their families