An inexpensive spacer for use with metered-dose bronchodilators in young asthmatic children.
A 1-liter soft drink plastic bottle was modified as a spacer for use with a metered-dose bronchodilator. Its efficacy was tested on 22 children aged 3.9-7.5 years who had acute asthma. They were randomly selected to receive aerosolized salbutamol or placebo via the plastic bottle. Children who received the salbutamol showed significantly greater degree of bronchodilation than those who received the placebo. No significant adverse effects were observed. Cylindrical plastic bottles of 1-liter capacity may thus be used as a convenient and cheap spacer to effectively deliver metered-dose bronchodilators to children during acute asthma.
Teo
J
J
Department of Paediatrics, National University, Singapore.
Kwang
L W
LW
Yip
W C
WC
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011897:Random Allocation
D000420:Albuterol