Severe bronchial asthma
A 10-years-old child has severe asthma and was hospitalized 5 times between the ages of 7 and 9. He is now receiving outpatient medications that have greatly reduced the frequency of severe attacks.
Questions and tasks:
1. Which medication should be used for long term therapy of bronchial asthma?
2. Which of the following is most likely to have adverse effects when used daily over long periods for severe asthma?
a) albuterol by aerosol
b) beclomethasone by aerosol
c) prednisone by mouth
d) salbutamol by mouth
3. Which adverse effects are the most common when glucocorticoids are used by inhalation (powder or aerosol?
4. Is there any advantage of co-administration of glucocorticoids and β2-agonists in long-term asthma therapy?
5. What is the reason for use of glucocorticoids parenterally in case of acute asthma attack? Describe possible mechanisms of action and pharmacological effects.