Asthma Treatment in Kids

Steroids, also called corticosteroids, decrease inflammation and swelling in the airways. Used both to treat and prevent asthma attacks, they can be breathed in, taken by mouth, or injected directly into the bloodstream or muscle. Inhaled steroids (for example, fluticasone or budesonide) are thought to be the most effective treatment for asthma. When using inhaled steroids, children should use a spacer (or a special mask if taken through the nebulizer) and rinse their mouths out afterwards.

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Online Medical Reviewer: Faculty of Harvard Medical School Date Last Reviewed: 9/6/2006 Date Last Modified: 8/30/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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