OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on the distribution of throat flora in children with bronchial asthma.

METHODSSixty healthy children were included in the study as the control group and 160 children with asthma in acute period before ICS therapy were chosen as the experimental group. The experimental group were treated with ICS therapy. In this group, 89 children were followed up for 3 months, 68 for 6 months and 60 for 12 months. The ICS in the study was budesonide with the trade name as Pulmicort. Swab from the pharynx was used, then inoculated in agar plate. The bacteria were isolated, the distribution and variation of the microbial population in pharyngeal portion were evaluated. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS12.0 software.

RESULTSBacteria could be detected in all samples collected from children with asthma in acute, untreated period, which were mainly non-β-hemolytic streptococcus and gram negative cocci bacteria. Gram negative bacilli, streptococcus pneumoniae and mycetes were less. There were no significant differences (χ(2) value were 4.7441, 7.8582 and 1.5583 respectively, Fisher exact value were 0.0699, 0.6398, 0.2433, 0.8580, 0.6616, 0.6339, and 0.8479 respectively, P > 0.05) among children with asthma in acute period, children with asthma treated with ICS after 3, 6 and 12 months and control group. Three strains of mycetes were detected in the experimental group, and one strain in children with asthma treated with ICS for 6 months group.

CONCLUSIONSThere were no significant changes in the distribution of throat flora between the control group and the experimental group. The throat microbiology did not show significant change. Inhaled corticosteroids had no obvious effect in throat flora in children with asthma after being used for a short term and for 12 months, which suggested that inhaled corticosteroids was safe in bronchial asthma treatment. Dynamic monitoring of throat flora while the inhaled corticosteroids are used is of clinical significance.