RESUMO
The aim of this report was to evaluate clinical course of asthma in infants with long term inhaled corticosteroid therapy. We reviewed retrospectively 60 infants with asthma requiring inhaled corticosteroid-therapy at Infantile Medecine A Department in Children's Hospital of Tunis, during six years [1998 -2003]. We evaluated asthma control and treatment side-effects. 60 infants [43 males and 17 females] with asthma were given inhaled corticosteroids. The mean age at diagnosis was 11.2 months [2.5 -30 months]. The mean age at the beginning of the treatment was 17 months [3 - 42 months]. All patients were given beclomethasone propionate during a period of 23.5 months in average [9 - 66 months] with a mean daily dose of 697micro g [400 - 750 microg] initially. Patients were followed up and reevaluated 44 +/- [16.3] months later [19-99 months]. Before treatment, 34 infants had moderate asthma [56.7 percent] and 26 infants had severe asthma [43.3 percent] [according to DeBlic classification]. After corticosteroid therapy, clinical course improved in 57 patients [95 per cent] who developed intermittent asthma, while three patients developed moderate to severe asthma [p < 0.001]. The mean weight of patients passed from + 0.22 SD to + 0.33 SD [p = 0.313]. The mean height of patients passed from + 0.04 SD to + 0.48 SD [p < 0,001]. 10 per cent of patients developed local side effects related to inhalation. inhaled corticosteroids allowed asthma control in infants without compromising growth at meaddle term