Children also met with nutritionists, who found daily calcium intake to be low. Children whose records were examined took steroids daily, every other day or intermittently. We found that only 5 to 10 percent of the children who came to National Jewish were taking a calcium supplement. Parents of children with asthma should check with their child's physician before starting any new medical treatments. Researchers did not find a connection between high usage of inhaled and oral steroids, and osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis causes brittle bones and can lead to bone fractures, especially in active children.
Nearly 5 million children in the United States have asthma. National Jewish looked at the side effects of steroids on adrenal gland suppression, cataracts, cushionoid disease and hypertension, making National Jewish's study the most comprehensive ever published focusing on steroid side effects in children. The last time medical researchers performed a similar study was more than 35 years ago. In addition, asthma itself can limit growth. Inhaled corticosteroids decrease and prevent swelling of the airways.