Influence of inhaled Corticosteroids on growth in asthmatic children

Numerous studies evaluated the influence of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on growth and development of asthmatic children. The aim of this study was to estimate the growth in asthmatic children and to examine the influence of continuous administration of ICS within a period of one year on their growth and development in relation to age, gender and the level of asthma control. The study group consisted of 60 boys and 40 girls, aged 7 to 18 years, diagnosed with partly controlled (76 children) and uncontrolled allergic asthma (24 children). Most of children received a moderate ICS doses. Body height increased during the analyzed period, and the increase rate was different depending on the age group. The largest height increase in both genders was seen in patients 7-14 years old and it was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the age over 15 years, in both genders, there were no statistically significant differences in height after three months. Statistical significance existed between start point and the 12th month as well as between 3-12 months (p=0.041 and p=0.031, respectively). Slower growth is explained with a short time difference, having in mind that children of that age are usually growing slower. There was no statistically significant difference in the increase of body height in relation to the level of asthma control. We concluded that prolonged use of the ICS in asthmatic children has a favorable effect on clinical course of disease, while at the same time does not have an adverse effect on children's growth.