Salbutamol versus theophylline for wheezy infant.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the tolerability and efficacy of salbutamol and theophylline in treating wheezy infant.


METHODS
This was a prospective parallel group study.


METHODS
Wheezy infants admitted in paediatric ward of Khulna Medical College Hospital from January 1998 to March 1999.


METHODS
Palatability of drugs, clinical efficacy of drugs and adverse events during treatment.


RESULTS
Ninety-five patients had undergone this study. Forty eight were was in salbutamol group and 47 in theophylline group. Clinical problem at the beginning was recurrent wheeze (46.3%), wheeze with fever (32.6%) and spasmodic cough (21.1%). Salbutamol was more palatable (P < 0.001) than theophylline. However efficacy of both the drugs were nearly equal (P > 0.1). Adverse effect was more frequent in theophylline treated children (47.4%) than in salbutamol group (24.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Salbutamol is better tolerated than theophylline whereas both the drugs were equally effective for bronchodilation in infancy.
Rasul
C H
CH
Khulna Medical Colege, Khulna, Bangladesh.
Khan
M A
MA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000187:drug effects*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013806:Theophylline; D000420:Albuterol