Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection affecting young children. Much controversy revolves around the efficacy of bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchiolitis. This study was conducted to address this issue.
Aim: To determine the efficacy of bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchiolitis.
Method: All children less than 2 years old with bronchiolitis were randomly assigned to receive nebulisations of Salbutamol, Ipratropium bromide or normal saline. A fourth group given only humidified oxygen without nebulisation were used as a control.
Results: Data were obtained for 120 patients. Fifty-one (42%) had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated from their nasopharyngeal aspirates. The demographic characteristics of the 4 groups were similar. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of severity score, number of nebulisations required in the nebulised groups and the outcome as measured by the length of hospitalisation.
Conclusion: The use of bronchodilators did not alter the course of the disease and is therefore not effective in the treatment of bronchiolitis.