Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

Controversies in the treatment of bronchiolitis

Richard J Scarfone1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. Scarfone@email.chop.edu

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|January 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Bronchiolitis treatments like bronchodilators, epinephrine, and corticosteroids lack proven clinical benefits for young children. Evidence does not support their routine use in treating this common respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

  • Bronchiolitis is a frequent and serious respiratory illness in young children.
  • Current treatment approaches lack a unified, evidence-based standard.
  • Recent research focuses on evaluating established and novel therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on acute bronchiolitis treatment.
  • To assess the efficacy of common medications for outpatients and hospitalized children.
  • To provide an evidence-based summary for clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recently published randomized clinical trials.
  • Analysis of meta-analyses and systematic reviews.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding bronchodilators, epinephrine, and corticosteroids.

Main Results:

  • Most recent trials show no clinical efficacy for bronchodilators, epinephrine, or corticosteroids.
  • Meta-analyses and systematic reviews also fail to support routine use.
  • Evidence for these treatments in bronchiolitis remains unconvincing.

Conclusions:

  • Routine use of bronchodilators, epinephrine, or corticosteroids is not justified.
  • Treatment decisions should be based on demonstrated clinical benefits for individual patients.
  • Further research may be needed to identify effective therapies.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Murine Intrapulmonary Tracheal Transplantation: A Model for Investigating Obliterative Airway Disease After Lung Transplantation06:15

Murine Intrapulmonary Tracheal Transplantation: A Model for Investigating Obliterative Airway Disease After Lung Transplantation

Published on: November 10, 2023

Related Concept Videos

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Acute Respiratory Failure-V01:29

Acute Respiratory Failure-V

The treatment for acute respiratory failure varies based on factors like the underlying cause, overall health, and severity. A collaborative healthcare team is essential for early detection, often through arterial blood gas analysis. Identifying the cause is the primary goal, with treatment strategies adjusted for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, shunting, or diffusion impairment.
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:17

Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Lower respiratory tract disorders present challenges that often require skilled and nuanced approaches for effective management. Common ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have prompted the development of intricate treatment strategies involving bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, each tailored to ease breathing and revitalize the lungs.
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...