title: The under-use of steroids for children with asthma in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Recent surveys have shown that asthma management is still not optimal. The aim of this study was to investigate how far corticosteroids and other medications are used for children with asthma visiting the emergency room (E.R) for management. The study sample comprised the128 children, who visited the emergency rooms of Assir central Hospital and Abha Private Hospital, and received treatment for their asthma from august 1997 to 31 June 2002. Information upon asthmetic patients were collected from records, regarding the previous medicines received prior the emergency visit and the treatment received at emergency room. Only children with age between one year and twelve years who were discharged from the emergency rooms, were included in this study. The striking finding in this study is that, less than one tenth of the patients were given intravenous steroids; four patients were given oral steroids, while none of them was given intramuscular steroids at emergency room. Also more than half of the patients received anti- cough medicine, and two thirds of patients were given antibiotics. Therefore, the under use of steroids and over use of other medicines for patients with acute asthma is very clear in this study. Specific education programmes focusing on the increase of prescription rate and adherence to steroids, will improve the overall degree of asthma
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 641, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshehri
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents