October 26th, 2011

From Reuters Health:

One class of drugs used to prevent wheezing and shortness of breath in people with asthma may increase kids’ risk of being hospitalized for an asthma attack, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

However, researchers said, it’s possible that when the drugs, called long-acting beta-agonists or LABAs, are used in combination with inhaled corticosteroid medications, that extra risk disappears.

“These studies confirm our recommendations at the FDA that are already (on drug labels) for children and adolescents to use inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs together in one asthma product,” said Dr. Ann McMahon, who led the study.

But, she added, the researchers weren’t completely convinced from the data they had that inhaled corticosteroids take away all extra risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven million children in the U.S. have asthma (about nine percent), and the rate has been climbing steadily in recent years.

Read more about asthma attacks online at Reuters Health