Van Niekerk, Andre2025-11-262025-11-262025-03Van Niekerk, Andre 2025, 'All corticosteroids in any formulation are not innocuous and beg to be handled with care', Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 4, doi : 10.10520/ejc-caci-v38-n1-a1.1609-3607 (print)10.10520/ejc-caci-v38-n1-a1http://hdl.handle.net/2263/105501Many short courses (bursts) of oral corticosteroids (OCS) are commonly prescribed for indicated and non-indicated conditions. These bursts are perceived to be safe and are usually given by prescription for less than 14 days at a time. The global corticosteroid market was USD 5.7 billion in 2023, and with a projected annual growth rate of 4.6% across all regions, reflects its widespread use. Published data of OCS use in South Africa are difficult to find, yet parents of children attending a clinic for immune deficiencies frequently report repetitive prescriptions.en© Allergy Society of South Africa.Oral corticosteroids (OCS)BurstsPrescriptionSouth Africa (SA)Article