Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhaled dexamethasone on hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Study design: A double-bli nd, placebo-controlled study compared nebulization of dexam...Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhaled dexamethasone on hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Study design: A double-bli nd, placebo-controlled study compared nebulization of dexamethasone versus nebu lization of 0.9%saline. Both groups were treated with epinephrine nebulizations . Follow-up continued for 3 mo. Patients and methods: Sixty-one infants with b ronchiolitis aged 3 to 12 mo were included. They were randomly allocated to nebu lizations with 0.25 mg dexamethasone every 6 h (group 1) or an equivalent amount of normal saline (group 2). Results: No statistically significant differences w ith respect to clinical score, oxygen saturation, or IV fluid requirement betwee n the groups were noted. Using Kaplan-Meyer’s method, the cumulative proportio n of in-hospital stay was significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2, mainly in days 5 and 6 post-hospitalization (p < 0.038). A subgroup of prematu rely born children in group 1 had a shorter hospitalization period (6.5 ±1.7 d) compared with group 2 children (9.1 ±1.9) (p < 0.018). Follow-up revealed sim ilar wheeze and hospitalization rates in the two groups. Conclusion: Inhaled dex amethasone may reduce the length of hospitalization among infants with acute vir al bronchiolitis, especially among those born prematurely.展开更多
文摘Objective: To evaluate the effect of inhaled dexamethasone on hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Study design: A double-bli nd, placebo-controlled study compared nebulization of dexamethasone versus nebu lization of 0.9%saline. Both groups were treated with epinephrine nebulizations . Follow-up continued for 3 mo. Patients and methods: Sixty-one infants with b ronchiolitis aged 3 to 12 mo were included. They were randomly allocated to nebu lizations with 0.25 mg dexamethasone every 6 h (group 1) or an equivalent amount of normal saline (group 2). Results: No statistically significant differences w ith respect to clinical score, oxygen saturation, or IV fluid requirement betwee n the groups were noted. Using Kaplan-Meyer’s method, the cumulative proportio n of in-hospital stay was significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2, mainly in days 5 and 6 post-hospitalization (p < 0.038). A subgroup of prematu rely born children in group 1 had a shorter hospitalization period (6.5 ±1.7 d) compared with group 2 children (9.1 ±1.9) (p < 0.018). Follow-up revealed sim ilar wheeze and hospitalization rates in the two groups. Conclusion: Inhaled dex amethasone may reduce the length of hospitalization among infants with acute vir al bronchiolitis, especially among those born prematurely.
