LINEAR GROWTH OF VERY YOUNG ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN TREATED WITH HIGH-DOSENEBULIZED BUDESONIDE

The aim of this open study was to observe linear growth in young child ren with asthma treated with nebulized budesonide. Infants and young c hildren (<3 years old) with severe uncontrolled asthma were studied. T hey were treated with nebulized budesonide (1-4 mg day(-1)) and treate d for at least 6 months. Height standard deviation scores (HtSDS) were measured before (''pre-measurements'') immediately prior to commencin g nebulized budesonide therapy (baseline) and after at least 6 months of therapy (''post-measurements''). The mean HtSDS score at pretreatme nt was -0.21 and at baseline had fallen further to -0.46. The mean HtS DS increased to -0.17 when the post-measurements were made (p = 0.035) after at least 6 months of nebulized budesonide therapy. Treatment wi th nebulized budesonide for longer than 6 months in very young childre n with severe asthma was not associated with reduced linear growth.