RESUMO
In a group of 55 children in the age of 7-14 years with mild or severe asthma, the evaluation of inhaled budesonide (in pulmicort and horacort) effect on bronchial reactivity and adrenal cortex function was made. Budesonide in dose 640 mg or 800 mg daily was administered during 6 weeks. In addition fenoterol was administered in dose 2 x 200 mg daily. Lung function tests, a histamine provocation and cortisol level in serum were done before, after 2 weeks and after 6 weeks in the course of treatment. Effective control upon the disease was observed in 67.9% and 70.4% patients. The result of the treatment was significant decrease in bronchial reactivity toward a histamine. Decrease of FEV1-32% and -34% in the first study was improved after two weeks up to -24% and -17% and after six weeks it achieved-12%. The level of endogenous cortisol in serum didn't show significant decrease in the course of therapy. The ratio of benefits and risk of side effects in the course of budesonide in medium dose during six weeks indicates clearly the first ones.
