TY - JOUR T1 - Use of dexamethasone and prednisone in acute asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 704 LP - 706 VL - 55 IS - 7 AU - Allan E. Shefrin AU - Ran D. Goldman Y1 - 2009/07/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/7/704.abstract N2 - QUESTION Children frequently present to my rural emergency department with asthma exacerbations. Should I prescribe systemic corticosteroids? If so, which systemic corticosteroid should I prescribe? ANSWER A short course of steroids is indicated in the treatment of asthma exacerbations. Both prednisone (1 to 2 mg/kg daily for 5 days) and dexamethasone (0.3 to 0.6 mg/kg daily for 1 to 5 days) are effective in reducing hospital admissions and unscheduled return to care, with minimal side effects. ER -