Inhaled budesonide for the treatment of acute wheezing and dyspnea in children up to 24 months old receiving intravenous hydrocortisone.
BACKGROUND
Inhaled corticosteroids are highly effective in the treatment of asthma at all ages, and their use in younger children is increasing. There are no data currently available on the treatment of infants with acute wheeze and dyspnea with nebulized budesonide.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the clinical effect of nebulized budesonide in infants with acute wheeze and dyspnea.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed comparing the addition of nebulized budesonide 0.25 mg every 6 hours (group A, n = 32) and nebulized ipratropium bromide 0.1 mg every 6 hours (group B, n = 39) with the normal treatment regimen with intravenous fluid, hydrocortisone, and nebulized fenoterol. A clinical score was made at admission and every 12 hours. The score included wheezing and costal retraction (0-6) and respiratory rate (counts per minute).


RESULTS
Seventy-one infants aged 3 to 24 months were studied (42 boys). A statistically significant reduction was seen in clinical score and respiratory rate in both groups 12 hours after admission. The children who received budesonide improved significantly faster than the children who received ipratropium bromide, and the hospitalization period was significantly lower in the budesonide group (66.4 hours) compared with the ipratropium bromide group (93 hours) (P <.01). Three patients from the budesonide group and 2 from the ipratropium bromide group were readmitted within the first 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of infants with acute wheeze with nebulized budesonide is associated with faster clinical improvement and reduction in hospital stay period.
Sano
F
F
Hospital Nipo-brasileiro, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Cortez
G K
GK
Solé
D
D
Naspitz
C K
CK
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009241:Ipratropium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000187:drug effects*; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005280:Fenoterol; D019819:Budesonide; D009241:Ipratropium; D006854:Hydrocortisone