RESUMO
One - hundred and twenty children presenting with acute asthma were studied. There were 73 males and 47 females, aged between 5 and 12 years. The patients were randomized into three groups to receive either subcutaneous adrenal in [AD], intravenous aminophylline [AN], or nebulized salbutamol [SAL]. Forty patients were examined in each group. Vital signs, pulmonary function [PEFR] and clinical assessment were recorded prior to treatment and repeated at 10, 30, and 120 minutes [min] after treatment. There was no significant difference between the groups in age, sex, height or baseline PEFR. Each group showed highly significant improvement in PEFR at 10, 30 and 120 min compared to the baseline. Between groups, SAL produced PEFR response near its maximum value at 10 mitt and it was significantly better than that of both AD and AM at both 10 and 30 min. It was equipotent to that of AM at 120 sin. Adrenaline produced a response similar to AM at 10 mm. but it caused significant tachycardia and tremors. Salbutamol aerosol proved to be an effective and tolerable bronchodilator in the treatment to be used in emergency units of regional hospitals. Adrenaline, also potent, but much less expensive than SAL remains the drug of choice for nation - wide use in all health units in the country