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Published on: November 4, 2010
Rapid response to budesonide (Pulmicort) inhaled via the Nebuhaler in asthmatic children
Insights
Budesonide effectively treats acute reversible airways obstruction in young children, including infants. This inhaled corticosteroid provides rapid clinical improvement, even in those unresponsive to other treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute reversible airways obstruction in infants and young children presents a treatment challenge in general practice.
- Standard treatments like inhaled beta-2-stimulants may be less effective in children under one year old.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of budesonide delivered via a Nebuhaler with a facemask for treating acute reversible airways obstruction in young children.
- To assess the speed of clinical improvement following budesonide administration in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- An open-label study involving 48 episodes of acute reversible airways obstruction in 29 children, with half under one year of age.
- Treatment involved budesonide (0.1-2.09 mg) administered using a Nebuhaler device fitted with a facemask.
Main Results:
- Clinical improvement was observed in 45 out of 48 treatment episodes.
- Rapid improvement, typically within 10 minutes, was noted with budesonide doses of 0.8 mg and higher.
Conclusions:
- Budesonide, when delivered through a suitable device like the Nebuhaler with a facemask, is an effective treatment for acute reversible airways obstruction in young children.
- This therapeutic approach offers rapid symptom relief, particularly beneficial for infants and young children who may not respond well to other inhaled medications.
Abstract:
Acute reversible airways obstruction in children, especially those aged under one year, who may respond poorly to inhaled beta 2-stimulants, is difficult to treat in general practice. In an open study, 48 episodes in 29 children, half aged under one year, were treated with budesonide (Pulmicort) 0.1-2.09 mg used to charge a Nebuhaler fitted with a facemask. In 45 instances, clinical improvement was observed, and with doses of 0.8 mg and above, this usually occurred within 10 minutes. This study suggests that budesonide via a suitable delivery system can evoke rapid improvement in reversible airways obstruction in young children.
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