Asthma Medication Linked to Stunted Growth, Infant Study

Scientists have recently revealed shocking results of a finding that the infants who inhaled corticosteroids do not reach their full height when they grow older. New study conducted by the researchers at University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital disclosed that the asthma medication administered to infants in their early years can stunt their growth at a later stage, said Medical News Today.

The study was conducted with 12000 infants in Finland and the average of this sample size showed signs of stunted growth when they used ICS (inhaled corticosteroids). The study conducted previously has also suggested a link with suppression of growth. However, in Asthma UK, the researchers claimed that ICS played a crucial role in controlling the symptoms of asthma in young children, as reported by BBC. The impact is said to be relatively minor, says Samantha Walker of Asthma UK. The parents are advised to not forgo the treatment of their children who are using this lifesaving medicine to manage their symptoms. She says that the slight growth reduction is a very small price to pay for the medication that can save your child's life from life threatening condition of Asthma.

Children under 2 years' old who take asthma medication may face stunted growth of up to 3 cms in their later years, said Mirror. The lead researcher, Dr. Antti Saari said that there has been a link established between inhibited growth at or after the age of 2 years and treatment of ICS in infants in children that were otherwise healthy. Corticosteroids that are found in the inhalers are meant to subdue the affect of asthma symptoms. It is the first time that the study of such magnitude has been published.