Evaluation of the Efficiency of Two Methods in Treating Acute Bronchiolitis in Small Children
Bronchiolitis is an acute respiratory disease of early childhood, mostly caused by respiratory syncytial virus. A blind prospective study was undertaken to determine the effects of corticosteroid therapy on the duration and prognosis of the disease in small children with a mild to moderate clinical picture of bronchiolitis. Also, we wished to assess the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids given for acute bronchiolotis and for subsequent post-bronchiolitis wheezing. The study involved 44 previously healthy infants, aged 3–15 months. They were randomised into two groups (n = 22): one receiving corticosteroids and another given no corticosteroid therapy. The infants were evaluated by determinations of body weight and vital signs, and by rating of respiratory and auscultatory breathing. The medication given in the hospital was continued after discharge. There was no difference between the two groups in any of the parameters studied, but they differed significantly as concerns their respiratory rates observed 14 days after discharge from the hospital (3.74) (p<0.0011). The use of corticosteroids in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis can shorten a prolonged subclinical course of the disease, but has no effect on the severity of illness or length of hospital stay.