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Adrenal crises in children treated with high‐dose inhaled corticosteroids for asthma
Author(s) -
Macdessi Joseph S,
Asperen Peter P,
Randell Tabitha L,
Donaghue Kim C,
Ambler Geoffrey R,
Mellis Craig M
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05165.x
Subject(s) - respiratory medicine , medicine , asthma , child health , pediatrics , family medicine , surgery
Three children presented with adrenal crises, manifested by vomiting and hypoglycaemia, after protracted courses of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids for asthma. Significant dose reduction was possible in all three without loss of asthma control, emphasising the importance of back-titration to minimise dose. Parents of children taking high doses of inhaled corticosteroids should be alerted to the clinical features of adrenal insufficiency. If suspected, prompt medical assessment should be arranged, including serum glucose and cortisol measurement.