Qureshi 2001
ID: 5841f3ebd8307f6fe9bd8057
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Oral dexamethasone versus oral prednisone: Effect on relapse in acute asthma

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Journal Pediatric Research
Year 2000

This article is included in 1 Systematic review Systematic reviews (1 reference) 1 Broad synthesis Broad syntheses (1 reference)

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Primary study

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Comparative efficacy of oral dexamethasone versus oral prednisone in acute pediatric asthma.

Journal The Journal of pediatrics
Year 2001
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This article is included in 9 Systematic reviews Systematic reviews (9 references) 1 Broad synthesis Broad syntheses (1 reference)

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OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether 2 days of oral dexamethasone (DEX) is more effective than 5 days of oral prednisone/prednisolone (PRED) in improving symptoms and preventing relapse in children with acute asthma. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized trial of children (2 to 18 years old) who presented to the emergency department with acute asthma. PRED 2 mg/kg, maximum 60 mg (odd days) or DEX 0.6 mg/kg, maximum 16 mg (even days) was used. At discharge children in the PRED group were prescribed 4 daily doses (1 mg/kg/d, maximum 60 mg); children in the DEX group received a prepackaged dose (0.6 mg/kg, maximum 16 mg) to take the next day. The primary outcome was relapse within 10 days. RESULTS: When DEX was compared with PRED, relapse rates (7.4% of 272 vs 6.9% of 261), hospitalization rates from the emergency department (11% vs 12%) or after relapse (20% vs 17%), and symptom persistence at 10 days (22% vs 21%) were similar. In the PRED group more children were excluded for vomiting in the emergency department (3% vs 0.3%; P =.008), more parents were noncompliant (4% vs. 0.4%; P =.004), and more children missed > or =2 days of school (19.5% vs. 13.2%; P =.05). CONCLUSION: In children with acute asthma, 2 doses of dexamethasone provide similar efficacy with improved compliance and fewer side effects than 5 doses of prednisone.