Bronquiolitis, manejo con salbutamol vs solución salina en población pediátrica

Abstract

To determine whether salbutamol is more effective than saline in pediatric patients with bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is defined as an inflammation and obstruction of the lower airways, the causative agent being respiratory syncytial virus. The most frequent symptoms are: fever, nasal congestion, tachypnea, respiratory wheezing, rattles and crackles. The incidence of bronchiolitis per year is 3.4 million and about 199,000 die in underdeveloped countries. Between 5-16% of hospitalized patients require ventilatory support and are admitted to special units; it mainly affects children under 2 years of age. Prevention against respiratory syncytial virus is scarce, since there is no vaccine; the use of immunoglobulins or antibodies has been proposed as a means of prevention, however, the cost is very high and the benefits are not significant. As for the treatment of the disease, salbutamol or saline solution are the most commonly used, which of the two is more effective will be analysed. Some studies confirm that salbutamol can delay hospital discharge, others affirm the opposite, hence its controversy.