[Administration of budesonide (inhaled steroid) to children to control intermittent asthma]

Abstract

Background: Intermittent asthma in children is often treated only with short-action beta-agonists; however, most cases do not control totally the disease.

Objective: To assess the effect of salbutamol, as rescue drug, associated with other drugs for controlling asthma.

Patients and methods: Fifty children, from 1 to 14 years old, with intermittent asthma, who were assisted at Out-Patient Consultation of Pediatric Allergy, Children Hospital Eva Samano de Lopez Mateos, from January to October, 2004, were selected. Treatment consisted of the following regimens: (1) salbutamol, (2) salbutamol and budesonide, (3) salbutamol and montelukast and (4) salbutamol, budesonide and montelukast. After three months of treatment asthma control degree was measured by disappearing of symptoms (total control) or decrease of symptoms in more than 70% a week (partial control).

Results: A better control was observed in patients receiving budesonide (inhaled steroid) and salbutamol (p < 0.05), compared to those who were not treated with inhaled steroid. This regimen achieved in 44% the disappearing of symptoms (total control) and in 56% reduced the symptoms in more than 70% (partial control). Group receiving salbutamol, budesonide and montelukast reached a total and partial control in 47.1% and 52.9%, respectively.

Conclusions: Inhaled steroids are a choice to better control and avoid the progression of intermittent asthma. The use of new progression markers of asthma should be evaluated, in order to determine which children may receive early inhaled steroids and how long.