2023 Volume 37 Issue 3 Pages 282-294
We performed a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of glucocorticoids in treating acute viral bronchiolitis in infants and young children. The review included 18 studies (seventeen by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, one by Alansari et al. ). No significant differences in the primary endpoints of admission and lengths of stay between the glucocorticoids group and placebo group were found. Regarding the secondary endpoints, glucocorticoids significantly improved clinical scores at 3-6 hours and 6-12 hours post-administration in the inpatient group and significantly lowered oxygen saturation at 3-6 hours post-administration in the outpatient group. There were no differences before or after either of these treatments and they were considered to be temporary. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the respiratory and heart rates or the readmission rates and return healthcare visits between the two groups. This study had some limitations since the type, method, dosage, and duration of glucocorticoid administration varied. In addition, the analysis was limited to the first-episode wheezing, and further studies are needed about recurrent episodes of wheezing.
