Steroid asthma inhalers restrict children’s growth

Conclusion This systematic review has found that inhaled corticosteroid drugs suppress growth in children with persistent asthma who take them regularly, during the first year of treatment. This was high quality, well-conducted research, and its conclusions are likely to be reliable.  While the results are likely to worry parents, uncontrolled asthma can restrict a child’s activities and lower their quality of life. In severe cases, it can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks. Even low-grade, persistent symptoms can lead to fatigue, underperformance or absence from school as well as psychological problems, including stress, anxiety and depression. It's important that children continue to take their asthma medication as prescribed. Parents should discuss any concerns about their child’s prescription with their doctor. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Join the Healthy Evidence forum. Links To The Headlines Asthma inhaler use in children slows growth, research finds. The Guardian, July 17 2014 Asthma inhalers make children half a centimetre shorter. The Daily Telegraph, July 17 2014 Asthma inhalers 'can stunt growth of kids'. Daily Mirror, July 17 2014 Asthma inhalers 'stunt growth': Most widely-used device found to reduce height in first year of use. Mail Online, July 17 2014 Asthma inhalers can stunt growth in children, new research finds. The Independent, July 17 2014 Links To Science Zhang L, Prietsch SOM, D...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medication Source Type: news