Burden of corticosteroids in children with asthma in primary care: retrospective observational study

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Abstract
In primary care, asthma and rhinitis are common paediatric comorbidities for which long term inhaled or nasal corticosteroid may be prescribed. Atopic children may receive both, resulting in high cumulative doses of topical corticosteroids and increasing the risk of adverse effects. From 185 general practices in Scotland, we identified the number of children who were chronically prescribed both an inhaled and a nasal corticosteroid and calculated their total daily steroid burden between 1 November 1999 and 31 October 2000. Computer data about the prescribing of inhaled and nasal preparations to children between 1 November 1999 and 31 October 2000 was collected by 185 of 850 Scottish general practices currently using the general practice administration system for Scotland (software previously validated for completeness and accuracy).1 We …