A Cochrane review (abstract , review ) [withdrawn from publication] included 5 studies with a total of 374 subjects. Pooling of the data was limited, due to the clinical diversity of the studies. No effect of inhaled corticosteroids in the prevention of wheezing (diary records or GP diagnosed), hospital re-admissions or use of corticosteroids or bronchodilators could be demonstrated.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison), by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes), and by indirectness of outcome measures.