Inhaled corticosteroids in the management of chronic bronchial asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids have become a standard treatment for chronic severe asthma in adults and in children. In patients whose symptoms are not controlled by beta 2 agonist, theophylline preparations and disodium cromoglycate, inhaled corticosteroids can either reduce the need of or substitute for oral corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids are not effective in an acute asthmatic attack when oral corticosteroids are indicated. Patients who are not adequately treated with conventional doses of inhaled corticosteroids may benefit from high dose inhaled corticosteroids.