The use of inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma.

In the UK around 1 in 5 children will have been diagnosed as having asthma at some stage before they reach 15 years old. The use of inhaled corticosteroids has done much to reduce morbidity in these children and current British Guidelines recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids in all but mild childhood asthma. However, there are concerns about the long-term safety of such treatment in growing children, and the benefits and risks of their use need careful evaluation. In this article we review the place of inhaled corticosteroids in childhood asthma.