Inhaled corticosteroids and statural growth.

Inhaled corticosteroids are effective in patients with asthma by reducing t he chronic inflammatory changes. They are widely prescribed in children and even in infants. The potential adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids on statural growth have been the matter of numerous past and present contro versies. Asthma itself can delay growth. The majority of studies demonstrat e that the growth impairment is dose-dependent and that moderate doses of i nhaled corticosteroids are safe. Monitoring statural growth of asthmatic ch ildren, whether they are treated or not with inhaled corticosteroids is man datory. The treatment must be adapted to the severity of asthma, and overtr eatment must be avoided. Inhalation techniques minimizing systemic absorpti on must be used. Addition of other antiasthmatic drugs to moderate doses of inhaled corticosteroids should be preferred to high doses of inhaled corti costeroids alone. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.