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Evidence-Based Nursing 2009;12:105; doi:10.1136/ebn.12.4.105
Copyright © 2009 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & RCN Publishing Company Ltd.

TREATMENT

Review: inhaled corticosteroids reduce wheezing and asthma exacerbations in infants and preschool children

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Question

Do inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) reduce wheezing/asthma exacerbations (WAEs) in infants and preschool children with a previous diagnosis of wheezing or asthma?

Review scope

Included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of >=4 weeks of treatment that compared an ICS with placebo in infants and children <=5 years of age with a diagnosis of wheezing or asthma for >=6 months before study entry. Outcomes were WAEs (worsening symptoms that required systemic corticosteroids), withdrawal from study due to WAEs, change in symptom score, change in salbutamol(albuterol) use, and change in pulmonary function (FEV1 and peak expiratory flow [PEF]).

Review methods

Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (all to Mar or second quarter 2008) were searched for RCTs. 29 RCTs {n = 3992, mean age 40 mo}* met the selection criteria. Jadad quality scores ranged from 2 to 5 (mean 3.5) out of 5.

Main results

ICSs decreased the incidence of WAEs, withdrawals from study . . . [Full text of this article]

Paula Renouf

School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand


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