Oral Steroids Safe for Asthmatic Kids

Drugs have no effect on bone density or hormone function, study finds

TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Oral steroids used to treat asthmatic children have no negative effect on bone density or hormone function.

A Canadian study, by researchers at McGill University and the Shriners Hospital in Montreal, is the first to evaluate the effects of short courses of oral steroids on these areas. Their report appears in the February issue of Pediatrics.

While oral steroids reduce airway inflammation and treat asthma flare-ups, many parents have concerns about the potential side effects of the drugs.

This study concludes that they don't need to worry when oral steroids are used for up to five days to treat children with asthma.

The McGill researchers evaluated 83 children. Some of them received as many as 11 short treatments of oral steroids over a year.

The researchers compared bone density and adrenal gland function in children who took oral steroids to children who didn't take the drugs. The adrenal gland is an organ that secretes natural steroids.

The findings showed oral steroids have no lasting effect on bone metabolism and bone density, or on adrenal gland function.

The study did not examine the long-term effects of oral steroid use.

More information

Here's where you can find out more about asthma in children.

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