TY - JOUR T1 - When needed use of inhaled steroids in children with asthma JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P1169 AU - Walid Tarsin AU - Sondos Eddali AU - Ali Mugadami Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1169.abstract N2 - Asthma attacks vary in frequency and severity. Many children with asthma are symptom-free most of the time, with occasional episodes of shortness of breath and acute attacks, which may resolve rapidly after pharmacological intervention. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective medicine for long-term control of asthma in most children. However, often, ICS are used intermittently by patients or recommended by physicians to be used only at the onset of exacerbations.Asthmatic children visiting Tripoli Medical Center emergency room(ER) or their physician for follow up were investigated on the preference and the use of the ICS. 200 patients were included, their mean (SD) age was 7.1 (3.6) years. 160 patients had ER visit and 63 had hospital admission before. All patients used ICS as a routine treatment for asthma. 31.5% (n=63) used ICS regularly and 68.5% (n=137) used ICS during attacks only.84.5% (n=169) of the total patients and 100% (n=137) of the patients taking ICS SOS get asthma exacerbation after more than 3 months if they exposed to an aggravating factor.These patients may not need to take ICS regularly. This limit the long-term exposure to ICS.According to the Libyan culture most of the asthmatic children or their families do not like to take inhaled medication. The results of this study confirm this finding; were 68% (n=136) prefer to use oral medication than the inhaled therapy and 92% (n=184) prefer to use the ICS as SOS. ER -