PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mike Thomas
AU  - Steve Turner
AU  - Dave Leather
AU  - David Price
TI  - High-dose inhaled corticosteroid use in childhood asthma: an observational study of GP prescribing
DP  - 2006 Oct 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 788--790
VI  - 56
IP  - 531
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/56/531/788.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/56/531/788.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2006 Oct 01; 56
AB  - Inhaled corticosteroids are effective and safe treatments for childhood asthma in standard doses, yet at high dosages they may be associated with adverse events and suboptimal outcomes; add-on therapy is, therefore, recommended to minimise their use. We quantified prescribing of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and add-on therapy in children in July 2003 and found that high-dose inhaled corticosteroids were prescribed to 10% of children aged 5–11 years and 6% of under-5's who were treated for asthma. Add-on therapy was lacking for almost half of these individuals. Some children were receiving treatment not in accord with current licences and evidence-based recommendations and, as such, may be at risk of adverse outcomes.