Asthma Respiratory Asthma
Conditions
Interventions
Dexamethasone phosphate 0.3 mg/kg orally (PO) followed by one placebo dose daily for 2 days (3 doses in total) or prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day PO for 3 days.
Dexamethasone is licensed for
Sponsors
National Children’s Research Centre
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 2 - 16 years, either sex 2. Presentation with acute asthma, defined as: 2.1. At least two previous episodes of beta-2-agonist responsive wheeze in a child 2 years of age or over 2.2. A prior diagnosis of asthma, made by a paediatrician, or clinician of comparable experience 3. Present to the ED of Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC), Dublin, Ireland
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Less than 2 years old or over 16 years 2. Previous enrolment in the study 3. Critical or life threatening asthma 4. Known tuberculosis (TB) exposure 5. Active varicella or herpes simplex infection 6. History of acute allergic reaction 7. Documented concurrent infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) 8. Fever greater than 39.5°C 9. Use of oral corticosteroids or admission for asthma in the previous 4 weeks 10. Concurrent stridor 11. Possible intrathoracic foreign body 12. Significant co-morbid disease, i.e., lung, cardiac, immune, liver, endocrine, neurological or psychiatric
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Exacerbations of asthma, as measured by the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM), measured at enrolment, pre-ED discharge (4 hours) and at 4 days. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Relapse rates, measured at 4 and 14 days 2. Treatment cost | — |
Countries
Ireland
Outcome results
None listed