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Urticaria - Management
Oral corticosteroids
- Adverse effects are uncommon with occasional, short courses of oral corticosteroids.
- If frequent courses of oral corticosteroids are needed, the following monitoring is recommended:
- People taking frequent courses of oral corticosteroids require specialist supervision.
- Blood pressure: monitor regularly and treat if necessary.
- Diabetes mellitus: screen regularly and treat if necessary.
- Osteoporosis: see the CKS topic on Osteoporosis - preventing steroid-induced for details about when to prescribe long-acting bisphosphonate therapy.
- Growth suppression: record height of children regularly and accurately.
- Cataracts: screen children periodically.
- Children who are on frequent courses of oral corticosteroids should have regular checks for signs of adrenal suppression, with referral to a paediatrician who can arrange synacthen testing where appropriate.
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