Effect of oral and inhaled salbutamol in infants with bronchiolitis

The response of bronchiolitis to bronchodilator drugs is controversial. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of oral or metered dose inhaler (MDI) salbutamol using a coffee cup as a spacer device in bronchiolitis. In the trial, 31 hospitalized patients between 6 and 24 months of age, who exhibited the first episode of acute bronchiolitis without any other predisposing illness such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease etc., were randomly assigned to receive oral salbutamol (n = 11, 0.1 mg/kg per dose, four times a day), or MDI salbutamol (n = 12, 200 micrograms per dose, every 3 h) or formed the control group without any bronchodilator therapy (n = 8). All of the patients were given supplemental oxygen as needed and adequate hydration was maintained. The patients were evaluated with clinical symptom scores. There were no differences in the beneficial or side effects of salbutamol, or the number of days in hospital between the treatment groups and the control group. It was concluded that there is no beneficial effect in using bronchodilators in infants with bronchiolitis. Supplemental oxygen and maintenance of normal hydration may be adequate.