According to the New England Journal of Medicine, increased dosage of steroids do not help asthma flare up in children or adults and may in stunt the growth of children.
Increasing dosages is very common among medical doctors despite not being endorsed in medical guidelines.
In a recent study of 192 kids between the ages of 5 to 11 took a low maintenance dose regularly. When their asthma symptoms increased, the dose was increased by 5 times and the side effect was .09 inch reduction in growth compared to the low dose group.
Glucocorticoids makes the body more at risk for infections and can weaken bones.
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology says asthma is considered well controlled:
You have symptoms no more than two days a week, and these symptoms don't wake you from sleep more than one or two nights a month.
You can do all your normal activities.
You take quick-relief medicines no more than two days a week.
You have no more than one asthma attack a year that requires you to take corticosteroids by mouth.
Your peak flow (a measure of lung function) doesn't drop below 80 percent of your personal best number.
Source: www.cnbc.com
