Nell asked
Is Rhinocort safe for children age 4 years?
Answer
Rhinocort (budesonide) nasal spray is an intranasal corticosteroid indicated for the relief of allergy symptoms. Its use is approved for the following:
- Children 6 years of age and older
- Adults
There is a lack of efficacy, and perhaps more importantly, safety data, for use of Rhinocort in individuals under 6 years old. Therefore Rhinocort is not indicated for children under 6 years old and should not be used in children under 6 years old unless it is under the supervision of a doctor.
There are situations where the your child's doctor may recommend the use of Rhinocort if the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks for their particular situation.
Rhinocort Growth Suppression In Children
Part of the concern with use in children under 6 is the potential for corticosteroids, which includes Rhinocort, to retard growth.
Intranasal corticosteroids have been assocaited with a decrease in growth velocity in children.
The prescribing information for Rhinocort notes one study in which children using Rhinocort had a growth velocity 0.25 cm/year lower than those using a placebo.
However, not all studies show the same results. Another study concluded the following:
Administration of [Rhinocort] budesonide aqueous nasal spray 64 μg once daily for 1 year does not suppress growth velocity and is well tolerated in pediatric patients aged 4 to 8 years with perennial AR
Regardless, it is important to monitor growth of children taking Rhinocort long term as evidence is mixed in regard to how intranasal corticosteroids can affect growth.
Summary
- Rhinocort is indicted in adults and children 6 years old and over.
- Rhinocort has been linked to growth suppression in children but the association is not conclusive.
