ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A 12-month controlled pediatric study of intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) reported a 0.9 cm decrease in annual height growth velocity. Since children with allergic rhinitis may be treated for years, this report evaluates long-term height growth effects. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical charts of children with allergic rhinitis who were treated for the first time with intranasal BDP and were less than 10 years of age at initiation. Height was determined by stadiometry before intranasal corticosteroid therapy and compared with height at a final visit. RESULTS: Sixty children aged 24 to 117 months (mean age, 70 months) were treated for an average of 36 months. The pretherapy height percentile was 44.6, which increased to the 52.2 percentile at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term clinical use of intranasal BDP in children was not associated with decreased height growth. This outcome may reflect decreased long-term compliance compared with a short-term study. However, the treatment remained effective. Some children may be at special risk. Careful height measurements are recommended every 6 months.