The use of inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma in infants and young children.

OBJECTIVE: To review pediatric trials of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy and summarize data on the pediatric use of devices to facilitate delivery of ICSs. DATA SOURCES: Relevant articles regarding ICS treatment of persistent asthma in children younger than 5 years were identified from MEDLINE and reference lists of review articles. STUDY SELECTION: Key articles were selected by the authors. RESULTS: Clinical trials from the United States and Europe consistently demonstrated that ICS therapy is the most favorable treatment option with regard to safety and efficacy for infants and young children with persistent asthma. This contention is supported by numerous trials of budesonide inhalation suspension in children ranging from 6 months through 8 years of age and data from older children treated with fluticasone propionate. CONCLUSIONS: As the only corticosteroid available in the United States as a nebulized formulation and the only ICS product extensively studied in young children and infants, budesonideinhalation suspension is an appropriate first-line therapy for treatment of persistent asthma in this population.