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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
02:34

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: May 10, 2024

Intermittent treatment with high dose nebulized beclomethasone for recurrent wheezing in infants due to upper

G Ghirga1, P Ghirga, S Fagioli

  • 1Pediatric Division, San Paolo General Hospital, Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

Minerva Pediatrica
|June 19, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Early high-dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate can reduce recurrent wheezing in infants following upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). This treatment lowered symptom scores and acute attacks, offering a promising intervention for this common childhood condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Recurrent wheezing in infants following upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) presents a significant therapeutic challenge.
  • Early intervention strategies are needed to manage wheezing episodes in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of high-dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate initiated early during URTI in reducing recurrent wheezing in infants.
  • To assess the impact of early beclomethasone treatment on symptom severity and acute exacerbations.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 26 infants (7-12 months) with recurrent wheezing during URTI.
  • Infants received either nebulized beclomethasone (400 mg tid for 5 days) at the first sign of URTI or served as a control group without preventive treatment.
  • Symptom scores, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and oral steroid use were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Beclomethasone treatment led to significantly lower symptom scores (p<0.05).
  • Only one infant required emergency room visits during beclomethasone therapy, compared to five in the control group.
  • No hospital admissions occurred, and adverse events were not reported.

Conclusions:

  • Early administration of high-dose inhaled beclomethasone during the prodromal phase of URTI shows favorable results in managing recurrent infant wheezing.
  • The treatment reduced the frequency and severity of wheezing episodes and acute attacks.
  • Inhaled beclomethasone is a potentially effective and safe intervention for infants experiencing recurrent wheezing associated with URTI.
Abstract

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