No studies had shown inhaled steroids could protect against long-term lung damage.

He said inhaling steroids will feed a bacterial infection and make it worse.

Even inhaled steroids can cause side effects throughout the body.

HAT activity was reduced to control levels in subjects with asthma treated with inhaled steroids.

In contrast, risk of both SCC and BCC were unrelated to use of inhaled steroids.

Exhaled 8-isoprostane did not correlate with duration of asthma, dose of inhaled steroids or eNO.

Clinical implications: The decision to use long-term inhaled steroids could be based on a short-term trial.

It was postulated that inhaled steroids can have anti-inflammatory effects in patients with even milder disease.

Despite ongoing allergen exposure, inhaled steroids reduced the numbers of mucosal eosinophils, neutrophils and T lymphocytes.

Airway inflammation can be demonstrated in mildly asthmatic patients who are not treated with inhaled steroids.

Even inhaled steroids should not be stopped suddenly.

In the maintenance therapy of asthma, first-line therapy is dose-optimized inhaled steroids, reducing the need for bronchodilators.

Examples of Combination Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs) and Inhaled Steroids

Dr Francis Gilchrist, trustee of the British Lung Foundation, said: The inhaled steroids have absolutely revolutionised asthma care.

For severe persistent asthma the recommended treatment includes inhaled steroids, long acting beta agonists with or without theophylline.

Moderate persistent asthma should be treated with inhaled steroids along with long acting beta agonists for symptom control.