Analysis of recurrent wheezers under the age of two's reaction to inhaled short-acting beta-2 stimulants

Abstract

Background and Objective: Recurrent wheezing in infants under two years is a frequent cause of hospitalization and may significantly impact quality of life. To assess the therapeutic response of inhaled salbutamol compared to normal saline in infants with recurrent wheezing. Methods: This randomized, double-blinded trial enrolled 95 children under two years of age with at least two prior wheezing episodes. Participants received either nebulized salbutamol or normal saline at regular intervals. Clinical parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO₂, and RDAI scores were assessed at baseline, after 1 hour, 24 hours, and at discharge. Results: The salbutamol group showed a statistically significant increase in heart rate after 1 hour (p=0.05), while the normal saline group demonstrated significantly better oxygen saturation after 24 hours (p=0.009) and lower RDAI scores after 1 hour (p=0.019). Duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the normal saline group (p=0.002). Conclusion: In infants with recurrent wheeze, normal saline may lead to faster improvement in clinical scores, though salbutamol resulted in shorter hospital stay.