Saline nebulizers in treatment of bronchiolitis

Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted to assess the response to treatment and compare the effects of nebulized normal saline 0.9% and hypertonic saline 3% in the management of acute bronchiolitis, a condition associated with multiple complications in pediatric patients.

Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, a total of 60 children diagnosed with viral bronchiolitis in the autumn and winter of 2018 at Ali Asghar Children's Hospital's emergency department were enrolled. The cohort consisted of 30 children in the control group treated with normal saline 0.9% nebulization and 30 in the treatment group treated with 3% hypertonic saline nebulization. Demographic variables, symptom onset duration, and initial heart and respiratory rates were recorded. Disease severity was assessed using the Respiratory Distress Assessment Index (RDAI). Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Following treatment, both groups exhibited significant improvements in vital signs (respiratory rate, heart rate, and oxygen saturation) and RDAI scores (P value < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of improvement in vital signs and RDAI scores between the two treatment groups (P value > 0.05). The mean hospital stay duration did not significantly differ between the groups (P value = 0.16).

Conclusion: Nebulized hypertonic saline and normal saline both effectively ameliorated symptoms in children with bronchiolitis. The absence of a significant difference between these treatments suggests that either can be recommended for use in the pediatric population experiencing acute bronchiolitis symptoms.

Keywords: Bronchiolitis; hypertonic saline 3%; normal saline 0.9%.

Figure 1

The flowchart of the patients’ recruitment