THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS MAGNESIUM SULFATE ON CHILDREN ADMITTED WITH ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To assess the efficacy of using intravenous Magnesium Sulfate along with the conventional treatment in the management of acute bronchiolitis Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatrics department in Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, from Jan to Jul 2019. Methodology: The study was approved by institutional ethical committee of Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar. Children, 2 months to 2 years of age, with acute bronchiolitis having clinical severity score of ≥5, presenting to the OPD and emergency department were enrolled in the study after getting informed consent from the guardian. They were randomly assigned group A receiving intravenous Magnesium Sulfate and group B receiving placebo along with the conventional treatment for both. Data was analysed with SPSS-21. Results: Total 108 patients were included in the study with 54 (50%) in group A and 54 (50%) in group B. Mean age in the study was 12.02 ± 6.421 months. Mean age in group A and B was 11.17 ± 6.40 and 12.87 ± 6.38 months respectively. Out of 108 patients 50 (46.3%) were males while 58 (53.7%) were females. There was statistically significant difference in the efficacy of treatment between two groups with values being 48 (88.9%) and 37 (68.5%) for Magnesium Sulfate and control groups respectively (p=0.01). Conclusion: From a clinical point of view, intravenous Magnesium Sulfate combined with conventional treatment is more effective than conventional treatment alone in the management of acute bronchiolitis.