Lack of efficacy of single-dose prednisolone in moderately severe asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of single-dose prednisolone in reducing the length of illness and hospital stay in children admitted with moderately severe asthma.


METHODS
A randomised, double-blind, controlled trial of a single dose of prednisolone in 64 children presenting with an acute attack of asthma with arterial oxygen saturation less than 93%.


RESULTS
No significant differences in the rate of recovery of oxygen saturation, lung function measurements or duration of hospital stay were found.


CONCLUSIONS
This study failed to confirm the benefit of a single dose of prednisolone in the management of children with acute severe asthma.
Ho
L
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Department of Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA.
Landau
L I
LI
Le Souëf
P N
PN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017211:Treatment Failure
D011239:Prednisolone; D010100:Oxygen