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This paper describes one year's experience with the running of a special postnatal ward area, established so that babies who needed more treatment and monitoring than is generally undertaken on postnatal wards but who did not need the facilities of the neonatal unit could be kept by their mother's bedside. This 'intermediate care ward' admitted 297 babies with their mothers during its first year of operation. We estimate that the opening of the ward led to a 20% reduction in admissions to the neonatal unit, without disadvantage to any baby. The indications for admission are outlined and the reactions of patients and staff to the innovation discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess whether nebulized budesonide may substitute for oral prednisolone in the management of children whose asthma is severe enough to warrant hospital admission, but who have no life threatening features. In a prospective, double-blind, randomized study nebulized budesonide (2 mg 8 hourly) was compared with oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg at entry and again at 24 h) in 46 children admitted to hospital with severe asthma exacerbations. Efficacy variables (including lung function measurements such as the primary outcome variable, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and symptoms) were measured 24 h after treatment initiation. FEV1 improved significantly compared to baseline in patients who received nebulized budesonide compared to the prednislone group. The data show nebulized budesonide to be at least as effective as oral steroid in improving lung function and symptom severity in severe exacerbations of childhood asthma.