title: Growth during early childhood in asthmatic children: relation to inhalation steroid dose and clinical severity score.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Rotteveel@Vumc.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotteveel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potkamp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holl
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Delemarre-Van de Waal
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents