[Systematic reviews on efficacy and safety of beclomethasone nasal spray in the treatment of chronic adenoid hypertrophy in children].

Objective: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of beclomethasone nasal spray in the treatment of chronic adenoid hypertrophy in children.

Methods: We computerized searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (issue1, 009), MEDLINE (1950 to August 2008), EMbase (1984 to August 2008), CNKI (1994 to September 2008), and VIP (1989 to August 2008), WANFANG DATA, Annual Review-s and Elsevier Science. Also the reference lists of all papers were identified for further trials. All searches were initially performed in May 2007 and updated in April 2009.Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and quasi-RCTs were identified and analyzed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results: Three RCT were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity and the data were summarized in a narrative format. The trials showed that higher doses of beclomethasone (336 microg/d, 400 microg/d) might improve the nasal obstruction symptoms and reduce adenoid size in children with adenoid hypertrophy.

Conclusions: Higher and subsequently half doses of beclomethasone (336 microg/d, 400 microg/d) can improve the nasal obstruction symptoms in children with adenoid hypertrophy.The improvement appears to be associated with a reduction of adenoid size. Because of a lack of the RCT, further studies are required to support the use of beclomethasone as a first-line approach for these children.