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AAP Grand Rounds 19:1-2 (2008) Intramuscular Dexamethasone is Equivalent to Oral Prednisolone for Asthma ExacerbationsSource: Gordon S, Tompkins T, Dayan P. Randomized trial of single-dose intramuscular dexamethasone compared with prednisolone for children with acute asthma. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007;23(8):521–527; doi:10.1097/PEC.0b013e318128f821[CrossRef][Medline]
Steroids are recommended for moderate to severe asthma exacerbations by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.1 Emesis of oral prednisolone syrup is not uncommon and may result in hospitalization, a need for intravenous steroids, or suboptimal therapy.2–4 Researchers from Columbia University compared the clinical efficacy of a single dose of intramuscular dexamethasone sodium phosphate (IM dex) to a five-day course of oral prednisolone for the treatment of children with asthma exacerbations.
Patients aged 18 months to six years were enrolled if they presented with a mild to moderate asthma exacerbation and had a history of at least two prior episodes of
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