Comparative efficacy of oral dexamethasone versus oral prednisone in acutepediatric asthma

Objective: The objective was to determine whether 2 days of oral dexamethas one (DEX) is more effective than 5 days of oral prednisone/prednisolone (PR ED) in improving symptoms and preventing relapse in children with acute ast hma. Study design: This was a prospective randomized trial of children (2 to 18 Sears old) who presented to the emergency department with acute asthma. PRE D 2 mg/kg, maximum 60 mg (odd days) or DEX 0.6 mg/kg, maximum 16 mg (even d ays) was used. At discharge children in the PRED group were prescribed 4 da ily doses (1 mg/kg/d, maximum 60 mg); children in the DEX group received a prepackaged dose (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 16 mg) to take the next day. The prima ry outcome was relapse within 10 days. Results: When DEX was compared with PRED, relapse rates (7.4% of 272 vs 6.9 % of 261), hospitalization rates from the emergency department (11% vs 12%) or after relapse (20% vs 17%), and symptom persistence at 10 days (22% vs 21%) were similar. In the PRED group more children were excluded for vomiti ng in the emergency department (3% vs 0.3%; P =.008), more parents were non compliant (4% vs 0.4%; P =.004), and more children missed greater than or e qual to2 days of school (19.5% vs 13.2%; P =.05). Conclusion: In children with acute asthma, 2 doses of dexamethasone provide similar efficacy with improved compliance and fewer side effects than 5 do ses of prednisone.