title: Nebulized 3% hypertonic saline solution treatment in ambulatory children with viral bronchiolitis decreases symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the utility of inhaled hypertonic saline solution to treat ambulatory infants with viral bronchiolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Sixty-five ambulatory infants (mean +/- SD age, 12.5 +/- 6 months) with viral bronchiolitis received either of the following: inhalation of 0.5 mL (5 mg) terbutaline added to 2 mL of 0.9% saline solution as a wet nebulized aerosol (control; group 1; n = 32) or 0.5 mL (5 mg) terbutaline added to 2 mL of 3% saline solution administered in the same manner as above (treatment; group 2; n = 33). This therapy was repeated three times every day for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical severity (CS) scores at baseline on the first day of treatment were 6.4 +/- 1.8 in group 1 and 6.6 +/- 1.5 in group 2 (not significant). After the first day, the CS score was significantly lower (better) in group 2 as compared to group 1 on each of the treatment days (p < 0.005; Fig 1 ). On the first day, the percentage decrease in the CS score after inhalation therapy was significantly better for group 2 (33%) than for group 1 (13%) [p < 0.005; Fig 1 ]. On the second day, the percentage improvement was better in the hypertonic saline solution-treated patients (group 2) as compared to the 0.9% saline solution-treated patients (group 1) [p = 0.01; Fig 1 ].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that in nonasthmatic, nonseverely ill ambulatory infants with viral bronchiolitis, aerosolized 3% saline solution plus 5 mg terbutaline is effective in decreasing symptoms as compared to 0.9% saline solution plus 5 mg terbutaline.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic of General Health Services, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, 62 Halochamim Street, Holon 58100, Israel.
authors.forename: E Michael
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sarrell
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witzling
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Someck
authors.forename: Sion
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houri
authors.forename: Herman A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Avigdor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandelberg
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000336:Aerosols; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000336:Aerosols; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D013726:Terbutaline