Rhinocort Aqua for Children: Side Effects & Safety

Rhinocort Aqua is the brand name of the prescription inhalant medication budesonide. Despite its effectiveness at preventing the symptoms of asthma, Rhinocort poses a risk for side effects in some patients, particularly in children.

Types of Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Rhinocort in children are similar to those in adults and include nosebleeds, pharyngitis, bronchospasm or sudden constriction of the airways, coughing and nasal irritation, reports RxList.

Features

• In children, intranasal corticosteroids such as Rhinocort have the potential to stunt growth, warns RxList.

Drug Interactions

• Antifungal medications such as itraconazole and antibiotics such as clarithromycin and erythromycin increase your child's risk of developing side effects from Rhincort.

Risks

• Because nasal corticosteroids like Rhinocort suppress the immune system, the inhaler has the potential to make children more susceptible to infections such as chicken pox or measles . For this reason, children taking Rhinocort are sometimes given drugs to boost immune system functioning if they develop a childhood illness.

Considerations

• Children with tuberculosis, glaucoma, gastroenteritis, stress, lactose intolerance or osteoporosis may not be able to take Rhinocort due to its potential side effects, warns the Mayo Clinic. In addition, Rhinocort is not safe for use in children younger than 6.