All issues > Volume 48(5); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(5):518-522. Published online May 15, 2005.

The Efficacy of Nebulized 3 Percent Hypertonic Saline Solution and Fenoterol in Infants with Bronchiolitis

Joon Young JY Park¹, Young Mi YM Jeong¹, Soo Jin SJ Jeong¹, Son Sang SS Seo¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, Korea

Correspondence Son Sang SS Seo ,Email: sss@ilsin.or.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: To evaluate the effect of inhaled hypertonic saline solution in hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis.
Methods
: A randomized double blind trial was performed from October 2003 to May 2004. A total of eighty patients <1 year of age with a clinical diagnosis of acute viral bronchiolitis were enrolled and assigned to receive either of the following : inhalation of 2 mL(0.5 mg) fenoterol added to 2 mL of 0.9 percent saline solution(group 1; n=40) or 2 mL(0.5 mg) fenoterol added to 2 mL of 3 percent saline solution(group 2; n=40). This therapy was repeated at six hours interval after admission. They were evaluated daily just before and 20 minutes after nebulization. The outcome measures included changes in clinical severity score(based on respiratory rate, presence of wheezing, retraction, and general condition) after nebulization and duration of hospitalization.
Results
: In the clinical severity score, a significant improvement was observed during the 72 hours of hospitalization in both groups(P<0.05). The basic clinical severity scores before inhalation were decreased significantly faster in group 2 as compared to group 1 on each day of treatment(P<0.05). The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly reduced in group 2 than group 1(5.9?.9 days versus 7.4?.0 days, P<0.05). No adverse effects were associated with inhaled therapy.
Conclusion
: These results suggest that a nebulized 3 percent saline solution plus 0.5 mg fenoterol may be more effective than a 0.9 percent saline solution plus 0.5 mg fenoterol in accelerating the clinical recovery of infants with viral bronchiolitis.

Keywords :Bronchiolitis , Hypertonic saline solution , Fenoterol