Inhaled glucocorticoids are accepted as the most effective anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with bronchial asthma and their early introduction is recommended by national and international guidelines. Concerns have been raised about their potential adverse effects on bones and growth, as these appear to be more important clinically than effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which are more commonly assessed. Beyond doubt inhaled glucocorticoids have, as compared with systemically administered steroids, a much higher ratio of therapeutic efficiency than their systemic effects. This paper provides a review of hitherto published work on effects of inhaled glucocorticoids on growth in children with bronchial asthma.

        Key words: inhaled glucocorticoids, bronchial asthma, therapy