Intermittent Use of Inhaled Glucocorticoids Is as Effective as Daily Use in Preschoolers with Recurrent Wheezing

In 2007, the NIH Asthma National Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel recommended long-term daily inhaled glucocorticoid therapy for preschool children with recurrent wheezing. However, concern that daily inhaled glucocorticoids might reduce growth has led to a search for alternative approaches. In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind parallel-group trial, researchers compared the efficacy of daily low-dose inhaled budesonide (0.5 mg nightly when well and when wheezing) or intermittent high-dose budesonide (1 mg twice daily for 7 days at the onset of symptoms or signs of a respiratory tract illness) in 278 children (age range, 12–53 months) who had recurrent wheezing, positive asthma predictive index, and at least one episode re…