Comparison of Effectiveness between Beclomethasone Dipropionate and Fluticasone Propionate in Treatment of Children with Moderate Asthma

Asthma is a common chronic disease. Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and Fluticasone propionate (FP) are 2 inhaled corticosteroids that frequently be used in treatment of patients with asthma. In this study, the effectiveness of BDP and FP in management of asthmatic children was investigated. In this trial, 50 children with moderate persistent asthma were randomly selected to receive either BDP 600 μg or FP 500 μg for 3 months. Pulmonary function tests were measured in both groups at the beginning of study and monthly after treatment. Daily and night symptoms and consistency of drugs were also measured. There was significantly better FEV1 in patients receiving FP compared with the BDP group (P < 0.01). There was also statistically significant difference in patients receiving FP compared with BDP group in increment of FVC, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75 (P < 0.005). Night symptoms were significantly improved in the FP group from the first month (P = 0.001), while improvement of daily symptoms in this group compared with the BDP group was found from the second month (P = 0.001). Although symptoms and pulmonary function tests results were improved in both groups receiving either FP or BDP, this study suggested that FP was more effective than BDP in controlling moderate asthma in children.