The child with multiple short courses of steroid therapy

Abstract

Glucocorticosteroids are potent drugs that are important parts of rational therapy for a number of common diseases in paediatrics. While long term steroid use is associated with both adrenal and immune suppression, short courses of oral steroids (1 to 2 mg/kg of prednisolone or prednisone for three to five days) are not associated with these effects, even when used on several occasions over the course of one year. Chronic low or moderate dose inhaled steroid therapy is not associated with untoward systemic effects.