A descriptive study on usage of inhaled steroids in children

Abstract

Objective To determine the use of inhaled corticosteroids in a cohort of children at Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Colombo.Method A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on all clinic and in-ward patients of ward 4 LRH receiving inhaled corticosteroids for more than 6 months. A pre-tested, structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the demography, type of drug and device, adherence and response to therapy. ResultsThe study population comprised 185 children, 55% of whom were males and 35% in the 2-5 year age group. In 90% the inhaled steroid was beclomethasone. Metered dose inhaler was used by 64% and dry powder inhaler by 36% for steroid delivery. Ninety six percent of the study population used the correct inhaler device for their age group. The commonest indication for inhaled steroid was moderate persistent bronchial asthma. The technique was demonstrated at initiation to 99.5% of the users by the prescriber. Eighty four percent of the study population practised a 'good' technique. Nearly 80% of the patients adhered to the therapy daily and attended the clinic regularly. Around 15% needed hospitalisation. About 96% showed restricted lifestyles, mainly consumption of iced food. Inhaler technique of the patient had a significant effect on the clinical response to therapy (p<0.05).Conclusions Beclomethasone was the most commonly used inhaled corticosteroid in the study. Ninety six percent used the correct inhaler device for their age group. Inhaler technique had a significant effect on the clinical response. About 96% had restricted lifestyle despite optimal control.

Genetic, familial and environmental correlates of asthma among early adolescents in Sri Lanka: a case control study

“…The prevalence of asthma among 5–11 year old children varies between 13% -25% [ 10 , 11 ] and asthma has been recognized as a major cause for school absence among primary school children [ 12 ]. The disease burden and risk factors for asthma in childhood have been studied in detail [ 10 , 11 , 13 - 16 ]. Information on impact of asthma on adolescents in Sri Lankan context is limited.…”

Reliability and validity of the Sinhala version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Asthma Module in early adolescents with asthma in a district of Sri Lanka

“…For example, even though the item "hard to play with pets" is categorized under the Asthma Symptom Scale, it showed higher correlation with the Treatment Scale. The adolescent may not perceive the above as a problem related to his asthma but as a problem with the management of the disease because most Sri Lankan parents impose various lifestyle restrictions including avoidance of pets [10,11] .…”

“…Not only the presence of asthma but also its management strategies impose a significant impact on individual"s quality of life [8][9][10][11]. The physical and psychosocial consequences of having a chronic illness like asthma are more profound among adolescents due to the nature of "adolescence" [12].…”

Impact of bronchial asthma on life styles in children with bronchial asthma in a tertiary care unit

“…Bronchial asthma has significant impact on childhood activities such as schooling, dietary practices and play activities in addition to the financial burden on the family. It is a major contributor towards school absenteeism in children (1) Even though there were several studies published regarding bronchial asthma in children, there is little data available on the impact of disease on child's life styles.…”

“…Lifestyle restriction in childhood asthma has also been reported from other parts of the world too. (1)(2)(3)(4). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of bronchial asthma on life styles in bronchial asthmatic children and to analyses the relationship between severity of asthma and life style restriction.…”