Efficacy of regular or intermittent inhalation of corticosteroids in treatment of asthma and its effects on growth and development in children

Objective To observe the efficacy of regular or intermittent inhalation of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate(SM/FP) in the treatment of bronchial asthma and its effects on growth and development in children. Methods A total of 112 children diagnosed with bronchial asthma between September 2012 and October 2013 were assigned to standardized treatment(standard group, n=56) and non-standardized treatment(intermittent group, n=56). Comparisons of clinical symptom scores and main pulmonary function indicators between the two groups were carried out before treatment and at 6 and 12 months after treatment. The growth velocity and changes in body mass index(BMI) were observed in the two groups. Results At 6 and 12 months after the treatment, the standard group had significantly reduced clinical symptom scores and signifi cantly increased pulmonary function indicators(percentage of predicted peak expiratory fl ow, PEF%; percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FEV1%)(P0.05); the intermittent group had signifi cantly reduced clinical symptom scores and signifi cantly increased FEV1%(P0.05), but PEF% was signifi cantly increased only at 6 months after treatment(P0.05). At 12 months after treatment, the standard group had signifi cantly lower clinical symptom scores and signifi cantly higher PEF% and FEV1% when compared with the intermittent group(P0.05). The growth velocity and BMI showed no signifi cant differences between the two groups at 6 and 12 months after treatment(P0.05). Conclusions Compared with intermittent inhalation, long-term regular inhalation of SM/FP performs better in controlling clinical symptoms and enhancing pulmonary function in children with asthma. Inhalation of SM/FP for one year reveals no apparent effect on the growth and development of these children.