Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on growth of asthmatic children

Aims and objective: the objective of this study was to assess the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on growth of asthmatic children. it was an observational cross sectional study. two groups were designed in the study. one is control group which include normal,healthy individuals having no clinical findings suggestive of any endocrinal disorder or any disease that might affect growth and other group isasthmatic patients who were treated with inhaled corticosteroids. patients and methods: this is a case control observational study in which,growth parameters were assessed in asthmatic children taking inhaled corticosteroids and healthy subjects. height,weight and head circumference of all subjects were measured. all collected information was entered in to spss version 20.0 and analysed through its statistical package. results: mean height and head circumference was the same in asthmatic patient as compared to healthy subjects. there was no effect of doses and duration of ics therapy on patient’s height and head circumference. weight was significantly lower in asthmatic patients than control. however,different doses and duration of ics therapy has no effect on patient’s weight. conclusion: we concluded that although there was no effect of dose and duration of ics on any growth parameter but there were significant reduction in weight of asthmatic children on ics therapy than control group. however,asthma,poverty or malnourishment may also be responsible for difference in weight between these two groups. © 2016,pakistan pediatric journal. all rights reserved.