Q:  My 10 months old nephew had bronchitis three months back. He was first given Asthalin and Nebulization for two days and after that Omnacortil 5 mg was given for three days. I want to know is it safe to give Omnacortil to a 10-month-old baby?

A:The infant is probably suffering from asthma-like bronchospasm (breathlessness) for which Asthalin (salbutamol) was administered. If the infant is not totally free from symptoms and there is risk of relapse, one has to give steroid such as Omnacortil (prednisolone) by mouth. As a matter of fact inhalational route is preferable but an infant can not take the medicine through this route except via nebulization which generally requires hospitalization. A short course of just three days with prednisolone is not harmful.