• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Pediatrics

Dexamethasone shows comparable efficacy to prednisone/prednisolone in pediatric asthma

byNeha JoshiandLeah Carr, MD
February 10, 2014
in Pediatrics, Pulmonology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Image: PD

1. A shorter course of dexamethasone, when compared to longer duration prednisone/prednisolone treatment for pediatric asthma exacerbation, showed no difference in terms of relapse rate.

2. Dexamethasone had a significantly lower incidence of vomiting when compared to prednisone/prednisolone, both in the Emergency Department and later at home.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: In addition to inhaled bronchodilators, a short course of corticosteroids is standard therapy for treating pediatric asthma exacerbations. A 5-day course of prednisone or prednisolone is currently the most common choice of corticosteroid treatment, though some small studies have recently looked at shorter courses with dexamethasone. This systematic review article identified 6 randomized control trials comparing short course regimens of dexamethasone with longer courses of prednisone/prednisolone in pediatric patients presenting for asthma exacerbation. Rates of unscheduled return to Emergency Department (ED) or clinic after initial visit and incidence of vomiting were measured. No significant differences were found between dexamethasone and prednisone/prednisolone in terms of relapse rate. Dexamethasone was associated with lower rates of vomiting both in the ED and at home. This systematic review was limited by potential selection bias and the quality of included studies. It suggests, however, that shorter courses of dexamethasone may be equally efficacious and with less side effects than the current standard steroid treatment of prednisone/prednisolone for asthma exacerbations.

Click to read the study published today in Pediatrics

Relevant Reading: AAP Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Clinical Guidelines

RELATED REPORTS

Haloperidol does not improve outcomes at 90 days in ICU patients with delirium

COVID-19 pandemic associated with decreased emergency department access for sexual assaults

Emergency department crowding negative influences outcomes for adults presenting with asthma

In-Depth [systematic review]: This systematic review and meta analysis included 6 randomized control trials from the United States and Canada assessing use of dexamethasone versus prednisone/prednisolone for treatment of pediatric asthma exacerbations in the ED. All trials excluded patients whose asthma exacerbation was severe enough to warrant. Dexamethasone was administered either orally or intramuscularly, in single or 2-dose form. Prednisone/prednisolone was given orally in a 5-day course. Relapse rate, as defined by unscheduled presentation to clinic or ED after initial visit, was calculated. The relative risk (RR) of relapse at 5 days with dexamethasone in comparison to prednisone/prednisolone showed no significant difference at 0.90 (95% CI: 0.46 – 1.78). A 30-day RR was similarly not significant at 1.20 (95% CI: 0.03 – 56.93). Incidence of vomiting, either in the ED or later at home, was significantly decreased with dexamethasone (RR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12 – 0.69), but it was not clear whether this was due to a chemical difference or the taste of the medication.

More from this author: Cardiovascular events in Kawasaki disease not significantly increased over controls, Hypotonic IVF linked to increased risk of hyponatremia, New risk stratification algorithm suggested for neonatal sepsis, Decreased trainee autonomy suggested with in-hospital intensivist coverage, Decreased incidence of NEC with probiotic supplementation

©2012-2014 2minutemedicine.com. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2minutemedicine.com. Disclaimer: We present factual information directly from peer reviewed medical journals. No post should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors, editors, staff or by 2minutemedicine.com. PLEASE SEE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN YOUR AREA IF YOU SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY SORT. 

Tags: asthmaemergency medicine
Previous Post

Caffeine intake among youth remains stable, but sources vary

Next Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind February 3 – 10, 2014

RelatedReports

2 Minute Medicine Rewind October 14, 2019
Emergency

Haloperidol does not improve outcomes at 90 days in ICU patients with delirium

January 8, 2023
Quick Take: Impact of scribes on emergency medicine doctors’ productivity and patient throughput: multicentre randomised trial
Emergency

COVID-19 pandemic associated with decreased emergency department access for sexual assaults

January 3, 2023
Evidence-based interventions for pediatric asthma successfully adapted for community health centers
Emergency

Emergency department crowding negative influences outcomes for adults presenting with asthma

December 27, 2022
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®:  Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Taylor Swift, NBA rookie Chet Holmgren and Magic Mushrooms!
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: Overprescribed and Understocked, A Costly Message, A Bad Wrap and Mauna Loa Erupts Again!

December 14, 2022
Next Post
Adjuvant radiotherapy reduces recurrence of ductal carcinoma; no effect on long-term prognosis

2 Minute Medicine Rewind February 3 – 10, 2014

Low circulating cholesterol in neonates linked with pyloric stenosis

Combination therapy comparable to high-intensity statins for LDL cholesterol

Community health workers improve outcomes in low socioeconomic status patients (IMPaCT)

Community health workers improve outcomes in low socioeconomic status patients (IMPaCT)

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Bisphosphonates, denosumab, abaloparatide, teriparatide, and romosozumab reduce postmenopausal fracture risk
  • Epstein-Barr viral load monitoring reduces risk of post-liver transplant lymphoproliferative disease
  • Homicide deaths are on the rise for children living in the United States
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options