Final answer:
Oral corticosteroids are effective for managing severe asthma symptoms in children, but chronic use can inhibit growth by accelerating skeletal maturity. They may also increase the risk for other serious health conditions and decrease in effectiveness over time due to decreased drug response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Oral Corticosteroids Use in Children with Asthma
When addressing the concerns of parents regarding the frequent use of oral corticosteroids for a child with asthma, it is important to consider the long-term side effects associated with these medications. One key concern is that chronic steroid use can inhibit growth in children. This is because steroids can accelerate the rate at which skeletal maturity is reached, and once a child reaches skeletal maturity, further growth in height is not possible.
Additionally, prolonged use of corticosteroids may lead to a variety of health issues, including an increased risk for conditions like liver cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. While oral corticosteroids are highly effective in reducing inflammation and managing severe asthma symptoms, their use must be carefully weighed against these potential risks, and they should ideally be reserved for situations where other treatments have not been successful.
It is also worth mentioning that while systemic steroids can be more toxic in children compared to adults, a hypersensitivity reaction to these drugs can occur in any individual, regardless of age. The use of these drugs is based on a careful assessment of benefits versus risks and should be monitored by healthcare professionals. Lastly, frequent use of oral corticosteroids may lead to issues such as decreased response to the drugs due to the body adapting to their presence, necessitating higher doses for the same effect.