Study: Steroids not for kids' flu wheeze

NOTTINGHAM, England, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Wheezing in children due to cold or flu is not reduced with steroid tablets, researchers in England have found.

The researchers suggest steroids remain an important treatment for children with asthma but steroid tablets do not help preschool children with non-persistent viral-induced wheeze.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted by researchers at the University of Nottingham, the University of Leicester and Bart's in London.

"There may be some children -- for example those with a family history of asthma -- who benefit," Dr. Alan Smyth of the University of Nottingham, who was the study leader, said in a statement. "However, young children who wheeze when they have a viral infection, do not seem to be helped by steroids."

Dr. Monica Lakhanpaul of the University of Leicester said a number of treatments are used in children without strong evidence.

'This study demonstrates the need for further research in children not only to help us to find out treatments that work but also those that do not work which will then open the way to new research," Lakhanpaul said. "It is sometimes difficult to recruit children to research studies but this study has been strongly supported by the families and children in the East Midlands and will help us to move another step closer to helping those children who suffer from wheeze."