title: [Efficacy of regular or intermittent inhalation of corticosteroids in treatment of asthma and its effects on growth and development in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy of regular or intermittent inhalation of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SM/FP) in the treatment of bronchial asthma and its effects on growth and development in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 children diagnosed with bronchial asthma between September 2012 and October 2013 were assigned to standardized treatment (standard group, n=56) and non-standardized treatment (intermittent group, n=56). Comparisons of clinical symptom scores and main pulmonary function indicators between the two groups were carried out before treatment and at 6 and 12 months after treatment. The growth velocity and changes in body mass index (BMI) were observed in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 and 12 months after the treatment, the standard group had significantly reduced clinical symptom scores and significantly increased pulmonary function indicators (percentage of predicted peak expiratory flow, PEF%; percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FEV1%) (P<0.05); the intermittent group had significantly reduced clinical symptom scores and significantly increased FEV1% (P<0.05), but PEF% was significantly increased only at 6 months after treatment (P<0.05). At 12 months after treatment, the standard group had significantly lower clinical symptom scores and significantly higher PEF% and FEV1% when compared with the intermittent group (P<0.05). The growth velocity and BMI showed no significant differences between the two groups at 6 and 12 months after treatment (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with intermittent inhalation, long-term regular inhalation of SM/FP performs better in controlling clinical symptoms and enhancing pulmonary function in children with asthma. Inhalation of SM/FP for one year reveals no apparent effect on the growth and development of these children.
authors: Respiratory Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China. huangying62@126.com.
authors: Lin-Wei
authors: LW
authors: Li
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Luo
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Yan
authors: Qu-Bei
authors: QB
authors: Li
authors: Dong-Hong
authors: DH
authors: Peng
authors: Chang
authors: C
authors: Shu
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones