Question: Are steroids really dangerous? What side-effects are associated with inhaled corticosteroids? Kindly explain the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on children?
Steroid Effects on Children
Many people have wrong opinion about steroids. They confuse it with anabolic steroids, sometimes used by athletes and weight lifters who want to build muscle mass. However, there are many types of steroids. And the corticosteroids used for asthma which is technically known as glucocorticoids are completely different. For treatment of asthma, inhaled corticosteroids are considered safe because very little gets into the blood stream to cause side effects.
Get to know about Albuterol Side Effects in Children
Inhaled Corticosteroids Adverse Effects
Inhaled corticosteroids are also accompanied by side effects.
- They often cause thrush, which is a fungal infection of the mouth. As a preventive measure one has to simply rinse the mouth after each inhalation.
- After inhaling the aerosol, some people even report an occasional cough or creaky voice.Do you wish to know what are the health risk of steroids
See also Side Effects of Deflazacort
The side effects of inhaled steroids on children are quite controversial.
- Some studies associate inhaled corticosteroids with impaired growth and some mild suppression of adrenal glands, which produce the natural steroid hormones.
- Other studies however feel that growth is not permanently stunted but merely delayed.
Research is being conducted further to know the effects of inhaled steroids on children. Until then, doctors and parents have to weigh the severity of their child’s asthma against the potential side-effects. To prevent severe attacks children with severe asthma may need inhaled steroids. As compared to steroid pills or injection, inhaled corticosteroids are much safer for children as well as adults.
Asthma Medications For Children: List Of Asthma Medicines For Kids Question: Commonly which medications for children with asthma are used? Which medications are generally prescribed? Kindly explain the treatment recommendations or guidelines.
List of Asthma Medications For Children
Most of the medications that are used for adults are used for children too. But adjustments in method of administration and dosage are made whenever necessary. Kids below four or five years are unable to use metered-dose inhalers (they cannot co-ordinate medication release with inhaling it), unless a device named large volume spacer is attached to the inhaler. These devices slow down the medication jet, and distribute the medication in a larger volume of air and give the child more time to inhale the medication. Other options include taking medication in its syrup form or using Nebuliser. More on symptoms of asthma in children
The medications are prescribed depending on the type of asthma the child has – whether allergic, exercise induced or another; the severity of the disease, the child’s age; presence of other medical conditions and other factors. Luckily there are guidelines to give doctors a starting-off point for planning a child’s medication plan. More info on asthma triggers in children
The treatment recommendations or guidelines include:-
Mild asthma – The symptoms here are infrequent and brief. And infants and young children may be given inhaled beta-agonists as needed to relieve symptoms. Oral medications can be used if inhalers are inappropriate. In older children however, beta-agonists maybe given as needed. Also read about diagnosing asthma in children
Moderate asthma – Here symptoms appear more then twice a week. Infants and young children maybe given cromolyn sodium along with theophylline or an oral beta-agonist. In older children, cromolyn sodium, inhaled corticosteroids and theophylline may be given. Also read about water for asthma
Severe asthma – Here symptoms appear on daily basis. Infants and young children may be given inhaled corticosteroids, and if required oral steroids in addition to the above medications. Oral corticosteroids and long-acting oral beta-agonists maybe given (to control nocturnal asthma) to older children along with other drugs. See also child asthma management
- Related Topics
- Corticosteroid Side Effects: Oral, Topical And Nasal Corticosteroids
- Albuterol Side Effects in Children: Albuterol Dangers in Infants
- Cromolyn Sodium Side Effects: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Dangers And Side Effects Of Sorbitol Overdose In Children
- Atropine Side Effects In Adults And Children And Medicinal Uses
