Growth during early childhood in asthmatic children: relation to inhalation steroid dose and clinical severity score.
OBJECTIVE
While short-term studies reported a growth retardation in children with asthma treated with inhaled steroids, long-term studies described attainment of adult heights within the target height range. In the present work, we describe the growth pattern of children with asthma.


METHODS
In 58 children with asthma, we compared the height at age 3 years with the height at a mean age of 7.5 years during a 12-month study period.


RESULTS
No differences in growth could be detected within the study year. Children in the lowest tertile but not in other tertiles for asthma severity score and inhaled steroid dose showed a significant decrease in height standard deviation scores from age 3 to age 7.5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in height standard deviation scores might be explained by undertreatment or an individual sensitivity to inhaled steroids.
Rotteveel
J
J
VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Rotteveel@Vumc.nl
Potkamp
J
J
Holl
H
H
Delemarre-Van de Waal
H A
HA
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents