PREDNISOLONE IN ACUTE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA - CLINICAL-RESPONSES TO 3 DOSAGES

Ninety-eight children aged 1-15 years entered a randomized double-blin d study investigating an appropriate dose of oral prednisolone in chil dren admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of asthma. None o f the children had recently been treated with oral prednisolone. Follo wing admission, the children were randomized to receive prednisolone 0 .5 mg kg(-1), 1.0 mg kg(-1) or 2.0 mg kg(-1) in a single daily dose in addition to nebulized bronchodilators. Clinical asthma scores, oxygen saturations, pulse rate, duration of admission and number of nebulize rs given were compared in the three treatment groups. Thirty-five chil dren received 0.5 mg kg(-1), 33 received 1.0 mg kg(-1) and 30 received 2.0 mg kg(-1). There were no significant differences in the pattern o f recovery between the three treatment groups. There were no advantage s in using higher doses of prednisolone. We recommend 0.5 mg kg(-1) da y(-1) of prednisolone as an appropriate dose for treating an acute exa cerbation of asthma.