Nebulized Magnesium Sulphate in Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Pulmonology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bronchiolosis is a common viral respiratory infection in infants.
• Standard treatment for bronchiolitis primarily involves supportive care.
• Investigating novel bronchodilators like magnesium sulfate is crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of nebulized magnesium sulfate as a bronchodilator in young children (1-24 months) with moderate to severe bronchiolitis.
• To compare the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate plus standard therapy against standard therapy alone.
• To evaluate the safety profile of nebulized magnesium sulfate in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• An open-label, randomized controlled trial involving 60 children with moderate to severe bronchiolitis.
• Intervention group received nebulized magnesium sulfate (3 mL of 3.2% iso-osmolar solution) every 4 hours for 24 hours alongside standard care.
• Control group received standard care only. Primary outcomes included bronchiolitis severity score (BSS) and length of hospitalization.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference was observed in the improvement of BSS between the magnesium sulfate and control groups.
• The length of hospitalization was similar in both groups, with a mean of 2.89 days for the treatment group and 2.96 days for the control group.
• No adverse events were reported in either group, indicating a favorable safety profile for nebulized magnesium sulfate.

Conclusions:

• Nebulized magnesium sulfate does not demonstrate superiority over standard therapy for managing moderate to severe bronchiolitis in infants.
• Further research may be needed to explore alternative dosages or treatment durations.
• Standard supportive care remains the primary treatment approach for bronchiolitis.