title: Hypertonic (3%) saline vs 0.93% saline nebulization for acute viral bronchiolitis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the length of hospital stay (primary) and improvement in clinical severity scores (secondary) among children with bronchiolitis nebulized with 3 % hypertonic saline or 0.9% saline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized double blind controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospitalized children (1-24 months) with acute bronchiolitis of moderate severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nebulization of 4 ml of 3% hypertonic saline or 4 mL of 0.9% saline, along with 2.5 mg salbutamol, at 4-hourly intervals till the patient was ready for discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar in two groups. Median clinical severity score at admission was 6 (IQR-1) in both the groups. Clinical severity scores monitored afterwards 12-hourly till discharge (132 h) did not show statistically significant differences in 3% and 0.9% saline groups. Mean length of hospital stay (time to reach predefined clinical severity score<3) was 63.93 ± 22.43 h in 3% saline group and 63.51 ± 21.27 h in 0.9% saline group (P=0.878). No adverse events were reported by the parents, caregivers or treating medical attendants in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nebulized 3 % saline is not superior to 0.9% saline in infants with clinically diagnosed acute bronchiolitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, SPMCHI, SMS Medical College and Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan Correspondence to: Dr Bhagwan Sahai Sharma, B-2, New Hira Bagh Flats, Near Nurses Hostel, SMS Hospital Campus, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302 004, India. drbssharma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bhagwan S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mukesh K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Shaikh P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rafik
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D012965:Sodium Chloride