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Use of montelukast in the treatment of early childhood wheezing from clinical experience with three cases
Author(s) -
Ng Daniel K.,
Law Albert K.,
Chau KinWai,
Chan HonKeung
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2000.00281.x
Subject(s) - montelukast , medicine , bronchiolitis , wheeze , pediatrics , respiratory distress , bronchopulmonary dysplasia , pneumonia , leukotriene receptor , respiratory system , immunology , asthma , anesthesia , pregnancy , biology , genetics , gestational age
Leukotrienes were found to be raised in respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Montelukast is a cysteinyl leukotrienes antagonist. We report our experience with the use of montelukast in three young children from 5‐months to 20‐months old. The first case was a 5‐month‐old boy with previous good health. He had prolonged respiratory distress secondary to adenovirus type 3 infection. The second case was a 20‐month‐old boy with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He had respiratory syncytial virus and an adenovirus type 3 infection leading to prolonged wheeze. The third case was a 20‐month‐old girl with chronic lung disorder after an episode of severe E. coli pneumonia at 1 month old. She developed acute virus‐negative severe wheeze after a few days of running nose and low‐grade fever. All three cases responded poorly to inhaled steroids and bronchodilators. Addition of montelukast was associated with marked clinical improvement within 1 week. The three cases were very heterogeneous and differed from usual simple virus‐induced acute bronchiolitis. The use of multiple drugs including montelukast did not enable any definite conclusions; however, the addition of montelukast was closely related to clinical improvement. Further studies in the use of montelukast in severe virus‐induced bronchiolitis are warranted.