Summary of glucocorticosteroids and growth in children
Uncontrolled or severe asthma adversely affects growth and final adult height |
No long-term controlled studies have reported any statistically or clinically significant adverse effects on growth of 100–200 μg·day−1 of inhaled glucocorticosteroids |
Growth retardation may be seen with all inhaled glucocorticosteroids when a high dose is administered |
Growth retardation in both short- and medium-term studies is dose dependent |
Important differences seem to exist between the growth-retarding effects of various inhaled glucocorticosteroids and inhalers |
Different age groups seem to differ in their susceptibility to the growth-retarding effects of inhaled glucocorticosteroids; children aged 4–10 yrs are more susceptible than adolescents |
Glucocorticosteroid-induced changes in growth rate during the first year of treatment appear to be temporary |
Children with asthma treated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids attain normal adult height (predicted from family members) but at a later age |