For this reason the doses should be reduced slowly over weeks or months. Children and steroid treatments - your questions answered The National Asthma Campaign's Asthma Helpline receives over 17,000 calls a year. Many of these are from parents concerned about giving their child steroids to treat their asthma. Here are some examples of the kinds of questions they ask. Almost certainly not.
Inhaled steroids are now standard treatment for children with asthma from infancy.
Children under six years should use a spacer attached to an aerosol inhaler. Children under three years will probably need a face mask as well. For more about spacers see our booklet Asthma in the Under Fives. A great deal of research has been carried out on the long-term effects for children of taking inhaled steroids. Children who have daily doses of 400 micrograms or less don't show any differences in growth.