COMPARISON BETWEEN INHALATION AND SYSTEMIC STEROID THERAPY IN ACUTE EXACERBATION OF MODERATE TO SEVERE BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Background: Corticosteroids are by far the most effective controllers used in the treatment of asthma and the only drugs that can effectively suppress the characteristic inflammation in asthmatic airways. They play an important role in the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in the ED as well as post discharge from the ED. Objectives: To compare the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) against systemic corticosteroids (SC) in children consulting in emergency department (ED) for acute asthma exacerbation. Methods: This was a prospective study done on children with acute asthma exacerbation coming to the emergency room of Al-Sayed Galal university hospital for evaluation and treatment. The study was carried out from July 2018 to January 2019. Results: 60 children were evaluated; 34 cases (56.7%) were males while 26 cases (43.3%) were females with age ranging between 2 and 14 years. No significant statistical difference was found between inhaled corticosteroids and systemic corticosteroids in treatment of acute exacerbation of moderate to severe bronchial asthma in children. Conclusion: There is no evidence of a difference between ICS and SC in terms of hospital admission rate, return to hospital within week, length of stay in ED and adverse effects in children consulting for asthma exacerbations.