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Table 1 Effect of corticosteroids on recurrent wheezing

From: Prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and postbronchiolitic wheezing

Reference

Effect

Children treated/control children (n)

Proven RSV infection (n)

Corticosteroid or other drug therapy

Duration of follow-up

Comments

[43]

Positive

68/120

All

Salbutamol, epinephrine, betamethasone, terbutaline, budesonide

24 months

Group 2 (86% received corticosteroids after discharge) versus group 1 (13% with persistent symptoms received drug after discharge)

[44]

Positive

40/41

All

Budesonide for 1 week or 8 weeks

2 years

Fewer patients in 1-week group (18%) and 8-week group (12%) had asthma versus control group (37%; P < 0.02)

[45]

Positive

Cromolyn 34; budesonide 34; controls 32

21

Budesonide; cromolyn sodium

16 weeks

Fewer wheezing episodes in last 8 weeks (cromolyn 19%, budesonide 16%, controls 47%; P < 0.05)

[46]

Positive

20/21

Not identified

Beclomethasone dipropionate

12 weeks

Wheezing (P = 0.005) and sleep patterns (P < 0.005) significantly improved in treated group at 6 weeks

[47]

None

83/82

All

Budesonide

12 months

No differences in duration of hospital admission, time to become symptom free, readmission rates, general practitioner consultation rates, or use of antiwheeze medication during follow up

[48]

None

Cromolyn 29; budesonide 31; controls 29

23

Budesonide; cromolyn sodium

3 years

Therapy for 4 months did not affect occurrence of asthma at 3 years

[49]

None

27/27

All

Prednisolone

3–7 years

No difference in number of wheezers by age 5 years

[50]

None

26/28

35

Budesonide

12 months

No difference in hospital admissions or increase in symptoms at 1 year

[51]

None

20/18

50% in each group

Prednisone

2 years

Similar prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms at 2 years

[52]

None

21/19

83%

Budesonide

6 months

No difference in prevalence of wheeze, cough/wheeze scores, or bronchodilator use

  1. RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.