Salbutamol is the mainstay of treating acute asthma and relieving wheeze. Some children may not respond to this medication. Up to 100,000 children – 13% of all children with asthma – carry two copies of a gene that renders the blue inhaler drug salbutamol ineffective.
If these children need to use their “reliever” inhaler daily they are 30% more likely to suffer an asthma attack than others, a UK research study shows.
Fortunately it is possible to test for the gene change using a simple mouthwash.
