Consider blue-green algal blooms this summer: Identifying and managing suspected cyanotoxin poisoning in primary care

Cyanobacteria, also referred to as blue-green algae, are micro-organisms...

The pharmacological management of asthma in adolescents and adults has changed

The recently released New Zealand adolescent and adult asthma...

Is it asthma? Assessing and managing wheeze in pre-school children

Wheeze in children aged under five years is common and often...

The COPD prescribing tool for initiating medicines

This tool provides pharmacological treatment options for patients...

An update on the pharmacological management of stable COPD

New guidelines for the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary...

Preventing and managing bronchiectasis in high-risk paediatric populations

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease characterised by bronchial...

Navigating uncertainty: managing respiratory tract infections

With winter upon us, it is timely to reflect on antibiotic prescribing...

Cold season: managing without antibiotics

For the majority of people with upper respiratory tract infections...

The bpac^nz COPD prescribing tool has been updated

The bpacnz COPD prescribing tool was developed based on the...

The bpac^nz antibiotic guide: 2017 edition

The 2017 edition of the bpacnz antibiotics guide; "Antibiotics:...

Pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a behavioural intervention for patients...

Bronchiolitis: when to reassure and monitor, and when to refer

Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection, most often...

Adding a long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA) to asthma treatment for adults

If a patient using an inhaled corticosteroid for asthma has...

Managing adults with asthma in primary care: the four-stage consultation

The New Zealand adult asthma guidelines were released by the...

Inhaled corticosteroids for adults with asthma

A key decision in asthma management is when to initiate an inhaled...

Upfront: Tips for prescribing newly-subsidised medicines for patients with COPD

In March, 2016, subsidy changes came into effect for medicines...

The COPD prescribing tool

This tool provides pharmacological treatment options for patients...

Asthma in primary care

Updated asthma guidelines are expected to be released later...

Newly-subsidised medicines for the treatment of patients with COPD

Subsidy changes for medicines used to treat patients with COPD...

Upfront: Are blood eosinophil counts helpful in predicting patient responses to inhaled corticosteroids in COPD?

The risks and benefits of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids...

Asthma education in primary care: A focus on improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples

Asthma education in primary care

Māori and Pacific peoples in New Zealand are disproportionately...

Debate: Do you prescribe antibiotics for respiratory tract infections? An everyday conundrum in general practice

Appropriate prescribing of antibiotics for patients with respiratory...

Delayed antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections: does the strategy work?

Delayed antibiotic prescribing, also known as a “back pocket...

Is point-of-care CRP testing useful in guiding antibiotic prescribing in patients with respiratory tract infections?

Point-of-care CRP testing may help primary care clinicians to...

Research updates

Shorter courses of oral corticosteroids for the management of...

Essentials for people with COPD

The interventions with the greatest potential to prevent further...

Upfront - End-of-life care for patients with chronic disease: have we made a difference?

In late 2011 we published an article on end-of-life care for...

The optimal management of patients with COPD - Part 1: The diagnosis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects approximately...

The optimal management of patients with COPD - Part 2: Stepwise escalation of treatment

This article contains some information on the use of inhaled...

Medicine updates

Two newly funded medicines for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary...

Assessing wheeze in pre-school children

Wheeze in children aged less than five years has many potential...

Cold season in primary care

A newer article is available on this subject: Cold season: managing...

Obstructive sleep apnoea in adults

Obstructive sleep apnoea affects many adults in New Zealand,...

Upfront: Lung cancer in New Zealand

Lung cancer in New Zealand: overcoming barriers

Managing breathlessness in palliative care

Breathlessness is a complex and subjective symptom that is commonly...

Bronchiectasis: rates still increasing among Pacific peoples

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease characterised by irreversible...

Bronchiolitis in infants

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection...

Pertussis: an avoidable epidemic

This article is out of date. Please see: Pertussis: halting...

The management of community acquired pneumonia

Pneumonia is a significant cause of hospitalisation and mortality...

Prescribing for children with asthma

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma...

Diagnosis and management of COPD in Māori and Pacific peoples

COPD disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples...

Diagnosing and managing asthma in children

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma...

Schedule changes for asthma inhalers

From 1 February, 2012 schedule changes for some asthma medicines...

The nutritional management of unintentional weight loss in people with COPD

People with COPD are generally underweight, have reduced muscle...

Pneumococcal vaccine for adults: Pneumovax23

Invasive pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae...

Continuing care for pregnant women with asthma

When asthma is well controlled during pregnancy, there is little...

News in brief

Changes to nicotine replacement therapy prescriptions | Topical...

The burden of bronchiectasis in Pacific peoples

In most developed countries the incidence of bronchiectasis...

Cough in children

Children who cough are frequently seen in general practice....

Do cough and cold medicines work in children?

The short answer is no. There is little evidence that cough...

Smoking related cancer morbidity and mortality

The majority of people with cancer will initially present to...

Seasonal allergic rhinitis

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever,...

Management of acute exacerbations of COPD in primary care

An update on COPD; acute exacerbations management, adapted...

Childhood asthma programme summary

Te huango o te tamaitiA short overview of childhood asthma,...

Diagnosing and managing influenza

In healthy people influenza is usually self-limiting and uncomplicated...

Self Management Plans for asthma - obsolete or needing a fresh start?

The asthma & respiratory foundation of New Zealand has developed...

Selected topics in asthma

Intermittent or persistent asthma? Which inhaled corticosteroid?...

Inequalities in asthma prevalence morbidity and mortality

Māori and Pacific children with asthma suffer more severe...

Guide to asthma management in children

To compliment the childhood asthma decision support tool. This...

Childhood Asthma: References

References and bibliography

Asthma Education Desktop Prompt

This desktop prompt has been used extensively by GPs, practice...

Asthma education for children and their families

Asthma education of the child and the family should lead to...

Bronchiolitis update

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection...

Influenza vaccine

Influenza is a highly infectious acute respiratory disease....

Why people smoke

There are many reasons why people begin smoking, continue to...

The management of anaphylaxis in primary care

Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal hypersensitivity reaction,...

Anticholinergics for COPD

Two recent studies have raised concern that the use of ipratropium...

Using nebulisers safely

Nebulisers are used to deliver bronchodilators to people with...

The nutritional management of weight loss in COPD

People with COPD are generally underweight, have reduced muscle...

Upfront: Reducing inequalities in asthma care for children

Reducing inequalities in asthma care for children.

Snippets: Anticonvulsants & Salbutamol

Anticonvulsants and suicide, subsidy changes for salbutamol,...

Snippets: Varenicline & Smoking

Varenicline and suicidal behaviour. Wider access to quit cards.The...

Asthma and chronic cough in Māori children

Māori children with asthma have greater hospital admission...

COPD in primary care: reminder and update

Managing COPD continues to be a major feature of primary care,...

Smart?

In view of the recent promotion of the SMART regimen, the use...

Dear Dave

Can Sumatriptan be used safely with SSRIs? Can you ever use...

Remembering respiratory infections

Revisits the main points of our respiratory infections campaign...

Winter Ills

Bronchiolitis | Cough in children | Fever in children | Acute...

Management of acute asthma

In this article we pose four scenarios and asked Respiratory...

Improving the care of children with asthma

Studies suggest that the majority of children with asthma do...

10 minute audit

This audit is designed to identify people in your practice on...

Update on the use of LABAs for the treatment of Asthma

Long acting beta agonists (LABAs) are useful drugs in asthma...

COPD update

Tiotropium is an effective option | Long acting beta agonists...

Dear Dave

Is it safe to use beta-blockers for cardiac disease in people...

Pharmacological management of asthma in children aged 5–11 years

A brief overview of the recently released Asthma and Respiratory...