title: Comparison of clinical effects of beclomethasone dipropionate & budesonide in treatment of children with mild persistent asthma: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are available to control the symptoms of asthma. Although beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and budesonide (BUD) are one of the oldest ICSs, their wide availability and low cost make them attractive options in developing countries. Due to lack of consensus on which of the two drugs is better for controlling mild persistent asthma, we undertook this study to compare the efficacy of these two drugs by measuring the change in percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) from baseline in children with mild persistent asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, randomized, parallel group study was conducted in children 7-15 yr of age with newly diagnosed asthma. Of the 85 cases of mild persistent asthma, 42 received BUD while 43 received BDP at a dose of 400 µg/day using pressurized metered-dose inhaler with valved spacer for two months. The outcomes measured were change in FEV 1 , symptom scores and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in FEV 1 in BUD group (98.43 ± 4.63%) than in BDP group (95.65 ± 5.66%) at the end of two months of treatment. The mean symptom scores in BUD group (0.28 ± 1.22) and BDP group (0.43 ± 1.52) were comparable after two months. No side effects were seen in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FEV 1 was significantly greater in BUD group than BDP group. Improvement in symptoms and incidence of side effects were similar. Our findings indicate that both BDP and BUD can be used effectively in the management of children with mild persistent asthma. [CTRI No: CTRI/2013/03/003495].
authors.affiliation: Department Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Devki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nandan
authors.affiliation: Department Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dewan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Jhuma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sankar
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D019819:Budesonide; D001507:Beclomethasone