YourSpine.com - Chiropractic - Oral Steroids No Help For Viral Wheeze In Children

Oral Steroids No Help For Viral Wheeze In Children

In the November 1, 2003 issue of The Lancet British researchers report that in children with colds who develop a wheeze, oral steroid therapy does not have any effect.

Many doctors routinely prescribe oral steroids if children develop wheezing during the course of a cold or other upper respiratory infection.

In this study, 120 children between one and five who had previously been hospitalized because of a viral wheeze were followed. 51 of the children were given oral steroids and 69 were given a placebo. Parents were asked to keep a diary of their children’s daytime and night-time symptoms over a seven day period. At the end of the seven days, the researchers found that symptom diaries of both groups of children were similar.

According to the researchers, oral steroid therapy for viral wheezing needs to be re-evaluated “since there are no clear benefits to balance potential risks.”

Change Zip Code Close