Effect of Different Doses of Inhaled Corticosteroids on the Isolation of Nasopharyngeal Flora in Children with Asthma.

Objective: To find the effects of inhaled corticosteroids and the impact of different doses of inhaled corticosteroids on the isolation of nasopharyngeal flora in asthmatic children aged 1-15 years.

Methods: The study included 75 children with asthma and 25 age-matched controls. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained. Bacteria were identified by standard techniques.

Results: Pathogenic organisms were isolated from 36% of asthmatic children and 20% of controls, the difference was not significant statistically (OR=2.25, 95% CI=0.75-6.67, P=0.13). There was no statistically significant association of using a high dose of inhaled corticosteroids with the isolation of pathogenic organisms. Usage of biomass fuel for cooking in the household of asthmatic children increases the risk of colonization (OR=3.4, 95% CI= 1.26-9.10, P=0.03).

Conclusions: Inhaled corticosteroids are safe in the treatment of asthma and there is no association between different doses of Inhaled corticosteroids and isolation of the pathogenic organism.