TY - JOUR T1 - Similar rates of relapse and time to return to normal activity with 2 or 5 days of systemic corticosteroids after asthma exacerbation but study confirmation of equivalence would require further study JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 23 LP - 24 DO - 10.1136/ebmed.2011.100257 VL - 17 IS - 1 AU - Brian H Rowe Y1 - 2012/02/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/17/1/23.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Kravitz J, Dominici P, Ufberg J, et al. Two days of dexamethasone versus 5 days of prednisone in the treatment of acute asthma: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med 2011;58:200–4.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed Asthma is common and flare-ups associated with exposure to a variety of triggers may result in emergency department (ED) visits, school and work absenteeism, hospitalisations and significant healthcare costs. The majority of adult patients presenting with acute asthma are discharged home following management in the ED. Many national and international guidelines have been developed on this topic.1 In the outpatient setting, care is focused on the use of systemic (SC) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) agents to regain asthma control. While prednisone is the most common SC used, there has been an interest in reducing the duration of treatment using agents with longer half life such as … ER -