| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
|
| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 4
| Issue : 3 | Page : 58-65 |
|
|
Effect of combined dexamethasone therapy with nebulized r-epinephrine or salbutamol in infants with bronchiolitis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
Manal Bawazeer1, Majed Aljeraisy1, Esam Albanyan1, Alanazi Abdullah2, Wesam Al Thaqafi1, Jaber Alenazi1, Zaam Al otaibi3, Mohammed Al Ghaihab1
1 Department of Pediatric, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Emergency, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Respiratory Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Alanazi Abdullah
College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University, National Guards, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: This study was financially supported by a grant from King Abdulla International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) (Grant number: RC09.047)., Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2231-0770.133333
|
|
|
Background: This study investigated the effect of combining oral dexamethasone with either nebulized racemic epinephrine or salbutamol compared to bronchodilators alone for the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis. Materials and Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on infants (1 to 12 months) who were diagnosed in the emergency department with moderate-to-severe bronchiolitis. The primary outcome was the rate of hospital admission within 7 days of the first dose of treatment, and the secondary outcomes were changes in respiratory distress assessment instrument score, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation (O 2 Sat) over a 4-hour observation period. Infants (n = 162) were randomly assigned to four groups: A (dexamethasone + racemic epinephrine) = 45, B (placebo and racemic epinephrine) =39, C (dexamethasone and salbutamol) = 40, or D (placebo and salbutamol) = 38. Results: Patients who had received dexamethasone + epinephrine exhibited similar admission rates compared to placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.64). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of hospitalization for patients who received dexamethasone + salbutamol compared to those who received placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.51). Clinical parameters were improved at the end of the 4-hour observation period for all treatment groups. Treatment with dexamethasone + epinephrine resulted in a statistically significant change in HR over time (P < 0.005) compared to the other groups. Conclusions: This study adds to a body of evidence suggesting that corticosteroids have no role in the management of bronchiolitis for young infants who are first time wheezers with no risk of atopy. |
|
|
|
| [FULL TEXT] [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
