| Class | Medicine | Available inhaler types (brand names) | Notes |
| SABA | Salbutamol | pMDI with dose counter (Asmol, Ventolin, Zempreon) | pMDIs should be used with spacers |
| Breath-actuated MDI (Airomir Autohaler) | Breath-actuated MDIs are generally suitable for children aged ≥ 7 years | ||
| Terbutaline | DPI (Bricanyl Turbuhaler) | DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty | |
| ICS | Beclometasone | pMDI (Qvar) | pMDIs should be used with spacers |
| Breath-actuated MDI (Qvar Autohaler) | Breath-actuated MDIs are generally suitable for children aged ≥ 7 years | ||
| Budesonide | DPI (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) | DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty | |
| Ciclesonide | pMDI (Alvesco) | pMDIs should be used with spacers | |
| Fluticasone furoate | DPI (Arnuity Ellipta) | DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty ⚠ Arnuity Ellipta contradicted for children with severe milk-protein allergy | |
| Fluticasone propionate | pMDI (Axotide Junior, Flixotide Junior, Fluticasone Cipla) | pMDIs should be used with spacers | |
| DPI (Axotide Junior Accuhaler, Flixotide Junior Accuhaler) | DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty ⚠ Accuhaler contradicted for children with severe milk-protein allergy | ||
| ICS-LABA | Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol | pMDI (Evocair, Pavtide, Seretide) | pMDIs should be used with spacers |
| DPI (Pavtide Accuhaler, Seretide Accuhaler) | DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty ⚠ Accuhaler contradicted for children with severe milk-protein allergy | ||
| LABA | Salmeterol | DPI (Serevent Accuhaler) | ⚠Salmeterol indicated only in patients also using ICS or oral corticosteroids. Separate inhalers for ICS and LABA should be avoided to prevent accidental LABA monotherapy DPIs are generally suitable for children aged 10 years and over. Most primary-school children can use a DPI correctly with training, support and practice, but some children <10 years may have difficulty ⚠ Accuhaler contradicted for children with severe milk-protein allergy |
Additional information
DPI: dry powder inhaler; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LABA: long-acting beta2 agonist; MDI: metered-dose inhaler; pMDI: pressurised metered-dose inhaler; SABA: short-acting beta2 agonist; TGA: Therapeutic Goods Administration
Table shows inhalers approved by TGA for the treatment of asthma in children 6–11 years.
[ ] Recommended options (subject to notes on age groups)
[ ] Not recommended for most children in this age group