A comparison of oral dexamethasone with oral prednisone in pediatric asthma exacerbations treated in the emergency department

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2008 Oct;47(8):817-23. doi: 10.1177/0009922808316988. Epub 2008 May 8.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if 2 doses of oral dexamethasone are as effective as a 5-day course of oral prednisone in preventing relapse for pediatric asthma exacerbations. Patients presenting to the emergency department with an asthma exacerbation were randomized to receive 0.6 mg/kg of dexamethasone or 2 mg/kg of prednisone in a prospective, double-blind study. The primary outcome was relapse within 10 days, and the secondary outcome was vomiting in the emergency department. Eighty-nine patients completed the study: 38 in the prednisone group and 51 in the dexamethasone group. In all, 3 patients in the prednisone group (8%) and 8 patients in the dexamethasone group (16%) required an unscheduled follow-up visit (P = .27). In all, 7 patients in the prednisone group (18%) and 5 patients in the dexamethasone group (10%) had vomiting ( P = .24). No difference was found in the relapse rate or incidence of vomiting between patients given prednisone and dexamethasone for pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recurrence
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Dexamethasone
  • Prednisone