EFFECTIVENESS OF REPEATED INHALATION OF β₂ AGONISTS (SALBUTAMOL) IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Abstract

Background: The study of repeated inhalation of nebulized short-acting β₂-agonists is a little in Japan. Neither the inhalation frequency, the dose of the medicine nor the inhalation interval are necessarily clear.
Method: Twenty five patients who visited the outpatient clinic with acute bronchial asthma exacerbations inhaled 1.5 mg of salbutamol. Three 20-minute interval inhalations or less were done to the case of SpO₂ < 97% or score of wheezing ≥ 2.
Results: All patients obtained an enough recovery clinically ( SpO₂ ≥ 97 or score of wheezing ≤ 1 ) and discharged without any side effects such as significant increase of heart rates, arrhythmia, tremor and palpitation. And we experienced the case who had presented a prompt improvement after it had inhaled two times or three times.
Conclusion: Repeated inhalation of nebulized short-acting β₂-agonists was thought to be a very useful treatment for acute bronchial asthma exacerbations. A further effect can be expected by increasing the dose of one inhalation more than the doses of use now. But, it s guessed that practical increase by repeated inhalation is more effective and safer than increasing the dose of one inhalation.