A Comparative Study of Nebulized 3% Hypertonic Saline Versus Nebulized Adrenaline in The Treatment of Acute Bronchiolitis

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in young infants and young children. The respiratory syncytial virus is the commonest cause of bronchiolitis. Recently the role of nebulized 3% saline has come into focus. Nebulized adrenaline has also been suggested as another treatment option, its primary role being the reduction of mucosal edema, which is an important part of the disease pathology in bronchiolitis. Objective: To see the effects of nebulized adrenaline in comparison to nebulized 3% hypertonic saline in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis. Material & Methods:This was a randomized controlled trial, carried out in the Department of Pediatrics, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute from October 2017 to March 2020. A total of 90 children from 1 month to 2 years of age of either sex who were diagnosed and admitted with acute bronchiolitis were enrolled. After enrollment, they were randomly assigned to either 3% nebulized hypertonic saline (group A=45) or to the nebulized adrenaline-1:1000 group (group B=45). Monitoring was done by respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) score at 12 hours interval for 1st 24 hours and then 24 hourly till the patient was ready for discharge. The efficacy was determined by assessing clinical severity score/RDAI score and length of hospital stay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version-23.Results:The mean age was found 6.34±3.89 months in group A and 6.06±3.55 months in group B. The majority of patients were males in both groups. All patients had a cough, breathing difficulty, Ronchi, and chest indrawing in both groups. Changes in heart rate were 5.68±6.61/min in group A and 2.86±5.87/min in group B, which was significantly decreasing in group A than in group B. Mean clinical severity scores at 12 hours and at 24 hours were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, mean clinical severity scores at baseline, at 48 hours, at 72 hours, and at 96 hours were not statistically significant. The mean duration of oxygen therapy was found 15.00±5.36 hours in group A and 24.63±11.64 hours in group B. Which indicates that the duration of oxygen therapy was significantly higher in group B than in group A. Majority of the patients of group A and group B were discharged within 72 hours 39(86.7%) and 28(62.2%) respectively, which was statistically significant.Conclusions:Nebulization with 3% hypertonic saline significantly reduced clinical severity score and length of hospital stay in case of acute bronchiolitis in comparison to nebulized adrenaline.