Which condition is commonly linked with long-term use of glucocorticoids in children?

Long-term use of glucocorticoids in children is commonly associated with growth suppression due to their impact on the growth hormone axis and overall growth plate function. Glucocorticoids can inhibit the proliferation of chondrocytes in the growth plate, which is essential for bone growth. Additionally, they may interfere with the action of growth hormone and other anabolic processes necessary for normal skeletal development.

While hypertension, asthma exacerbation, and anemia can occur with glucocorticoid use, they are not as consistently linked as growth suppression is. Hypertension is more a secondary effect that may arise from fluid retention or metabolic changes. Asthma exacerbation is generally not directly caused by glucocorticoid therapy, as these medications are often used to manage asthma rather than worsen it. Anemia can occur in various contexts but is less specific to long-term glucocorticoid use in children compared to the well-documented effects on growth.