Oral salbutamol therapy of asthma in young children

Twenty-one young asthmatics, 2-6 years of age (mean 4 years), were given an open trial of salbutamol syrup to assess its safety. Each patient was given 1 mg, then 2 mg, q8h for two weeks. Only one patient experienced side-effects and this was at the 2 mg dose. It is concluded that salbutamol syrup is safe at a dose of 1 to 2 mg q8h for the asthmatic children in this age group.