Continuous and intermittent salbutamol tablet administration in asthmatic children

We studied 22 asthmatic children aged seven years two months to thirteen years eight months over a four-month period. Each child received two months continuous and two months intermittent salbutamol tablets using a double-blind cross-over technique. No significant clinical differences were found between the two treatment regimens as judged by daily diary card scores. Daily PEFRs (both a.m. and p.m.) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) when the children were receiving continuous salbutamol and this was more obvious in the eleven children under ten years old. Lung function tests performed monthly in hospital showed no significant differences between the two treatment regimens.