What should you know about oral steroids asthma exacerbation?

During an asthma exacerbation, narrowed and inflamed airways can cause wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and breathlessness. An oral corticosteroid works throughout the body to calm airway inflammation; it is not the same as a quick-relief inhaler and may not provide immediate symptom relief.

A clinician may prescribe a short course after assessing the flare and the person's history. Triggers can include allergic rhinitis, house dust mite allergy, infections, smoke, or missed preventer treatment. The treatment plan should explain what to take and when.

Follow the prescribed dose and schedule, and do not share tablets or use an old course without medical advice. Take the medicine exactly for the instructed duration; ask before stopping, extending, or repeating it. Continue prescribed inhalers and follow the written asthma action plan unless a clinician tells you otherwise.

Short-term effects can include difficulty sleeping, mood changes, stomach upset, or increased appetite. Report troublesome effects, and tell the clinician about diabetes, infection, pregnancy, or other medicines.

Call emergency services if breathing is rapidly worsening, speaking is difficult, lips look blue or grey, the person is exhausted or confused, or the reliever plan is not helping. Do not delay urgent care while waiting for oral steroids to work. Nebuliser treatment or other supervised care may be needed.

Ask what triggered the flare, how to use the reliever and preventer inhalers, when the steroid course should start and finish, and what action-plan sign means emergency help is needed.