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Dexamethasone inhalations in RSV bronchiolitis: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Author(s) -
Bentur Lea,
Shoseyov David,
Feigenbaum David,
Gorichovsky Yilena,
Bibi Haim
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02003.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiolitis , dexamethasone , placebo , wheeze , anesthesia , saline , acute bronchiolitis , asthma , pediatrics , respiratory system , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhaled dexamethasone on hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Study design: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study compared nebulization of dexamethasone versus nebulization of 0.9% saline. Both groups were treated with epinephrine nebulizations. Follow‐up continued for 3 mo. Patients and methods: Sixty‐one infants with bronchiolitis aged 3 to 12 mo were included. They were randomly allocated to nebulizations with 0.25 mg dexamethasone every 6 h (group 1) or an equivalent amount of normal saline (group 2). Results: No statistically significant differences with respect to clinical score, oxygen saturation, or IV fluid requirement between the groups were noted. Using Kaplan‐Meyer's method, the cumulative proportion of in‐hospital stay was significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2, mainly in days 5 and 6 post‐hospitalization ( p <0.038). A subgroup of prematurely born children in group 1 had a shorter hospitalization period (6.5±1.7 d) compared with group 2 children (9.1±1.9) ( p <0.018). Follow‐up revealed similar wheeze and hospitalization rates in the two groups. Conclusion: Inhaled dexamethasone may reduce the length of hospitalization among infants with acute viral bronchiolitis, especially among those born prematurely.