Related Experiment Videos
Linear growth of very young asthmatic children treated with high-dose nebulized budesonide
Insights
Nebulized budesonide treatment in young children with severe asthma did not impede linear growth. Height standard deviation scores improved after six months of therapy, indicating no adverse effects on growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Asthma Management
- Growth Monitoring
Background:
- Severe uncontrolled asthma in young children (< 3 years) poses challenges for linear growth.
- Nebulized budesonide is a common treatment for pediatric asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of nebulized budesonide on linear growth in infants and young children with severe asthma.
- To assess height standard deviation scores (HtSDS) before and after at least six months of treatment.
Main Methods:
- Open study design.
- Inclusion of infants and young children (< 3 years) with severe uncontrolled asthma.
- Measurement of HtSDS at baseline and after a minimum of six months of nebulized budesonide therapy (1-4 mg/day).
Main Results:
- Mean HtSDS decreased from -0.21 (pretreatment) to -0.46 (baseline).
- Mean HtSDS increased to -0.17 after at least six months of nebulized budesonide therapy (p = 0.035).
- No association was found between nebulized budesonide treatment and reduced linear growth.
Conclusions:
- Nebulized budesonide therapy for over six months in very young children with severe asthma is not linked to diminished linear growth.
- The findings suggest that this treatment is safe concerning linear growth in this pediatric population.
Abstract:
The aim of this open study was to observe linear growth in young children with asthma treated with nebulized budesonide. Infants and young children (< 3 years old) with severe uncontrolled asthma were studied. They were treated with nebulized budesonide (1-4 mg day-1) and treated for at least 6 months. Height standard deviation scores (HtSDS) were measured before ("pre-measurements") immediately prior to commencing nebulized budesonide therapy (baseline) and after at least 6 months of therapy ("post-measurements"). The mean HtSDS score at pretreatment was -0.21 and at baseline had fallen further to -0.46. The mean HtSDS increased to -0.17 when the post-measurements were made (p = 0.035) after at least 6 months of nebulized budesonide therapy. Treatment with nebulized budesonide for longer than 6 months in very young children with severe asthma was not associated with reduced linear growth.