Asthma, glucocorticoids and growth.

Most asthmatic children grow normally. However, the disease itself and the treatments used, e.g. glucocorticoids (GCs) may affect growth, especially delaying puberty. Presently, the extensive use of early anti-inflammatory therapy is changing asthma to a milder disease and the effects on growth will probably further decline. Also, the use of inhaled instead of oral GCs has minimized the risk of systemic side-effects. High doses of inhaled GCs have systemic effects, and because there are individual differences in sensitivity to GCs, growth should be monitored in every child treated with GCs. The preparations with the lowest systemic bioavailability and the lowest dose to control asthma should be used.