PEDIATRICS Vol. 71 No. 1 January 1983, pp. 13-18
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tal, A.
Right arrow Articles by Moses, S. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Tal, A.
Right arrow Articles by Moses, S. W.

Dexamethasone and Salbutamol in the Treatment of Acute Wheezing in Infants

Asher Tal MD1, Chanan Bavilski MD1, David Yohai MD1, Jacob E. Bearman PhD1, Rafael Gorodischer MD1, and Shimon W. Moses MD1

1 From the Division of Pediatrics and Epidemiology Unit, Soroka University Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, Israel

Thirty-two infants, aged 1 to 12 months, hospitalized with acute wheezing, were studied. They were randomly divided into four treatment groups of eight patients each. The treatments were intramuscular dexamethasone or placebo (double-blind), and salbutamol (oral and inhaled), or none (open), in all four possible combinations. The study was carried out as a randomized block design with eight blocks of four infants each, matched by age and clinical score. Average daily improvements, as reflected by changes in the clinical score and length of hospital stay, was essentially the same for infants treated with placebo, salbutamol alone, and dexamethasone alone. However, combined salbutamol-dexamethasone treatment resulted in more than twice the rate of improvement of the other treatments. The difference was statistically highly significant (P < .01). Furthermore, the response of this combined treatment was observed within 24 hours; none of the ten infants in whom there was no significant improvement within 48 hours and neither of the two patients who developed respiratory failure received the combined salbutamol-dexamethasone treatment. A potentiating effect of corticosteroids on the beta-adrenergic responsiveness is a possible explanation for the advantage of this combined treatment in the management of acute wheezing in infancy.

Key Words: wheezing infant • corticosteroids • beta2-adrenergic agent

Submitted on March 16, 1982




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
S. McGee and J. Hirschmann
Use of Corticosteroids in Treating Infectious Diseases
Arch Intern Med, May 26, 2008; 168(10): 1034 - 1046.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
Subcommittee on Diagnosis and Management of Bronch
Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, October 1, 2006; 118(4): 1774 - 1793.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
R. A. Pinto, S. M. Arredondo, M. R. Bono, A. A. Gaggero, and P. V. Diaz
T Helper 1/T Helper 2 Cytokine Imbalance in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Is Associated With Increased Endogenous Plasma Cortisol
Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5): e878 - e886.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Microbiol. Rev.Home page
A. J. Easton, J. B. Domachowske, and H. F. Rosenberg
Animal Pneumoviruses: Molecular Genetics and Pathogenesis
Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2004; 17(2): 390 - 412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BloodHome page
E. J. Anaissie, T. H. Mahfouz, T. Aslan, A. Pouli, R. Desikan, A. Fassas, and B. Barlogie
The natural history of respiratory syncytial virus infection in cancer and transplant patients: implications for management
Blood, March 1, 2004; 103(5): 1611 - 1617.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
L. Hartling, N. Wiebe, K. Russell, H. Patel, and T. P. Klassen
A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating the Efficacy of Epinephrine for the Treatment of Acute Viral Bronchiolitis
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, October 1, 2003; 157(10): 957 - 964.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ThoraxHome page
J B M van Woensel, W M C van Aalderen, W de Weerd, N J G Jansen, J P J van Gestel, D G Markhorst, A J van Vught, A P Bos, and J L L Kimpen
Dexamethasone for treatment of patients mechanically ventilated for lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus
Thorax, May 1, 2003; 58(5): 383 - 387.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
R J Chavasse, Y Bastian-Lee, H Richter, T Hilliard, and P Seddon
Inhaled salbutamol for wheezy infants: a randomised controlled trial
Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 2000; 82(5): 370 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
J. Goebel, B. Estrada, J. Quinonez, N. Nagji, D. Sanford, and R. C. Boerth
Prednisolone Plus Albuterol Versus Albuterol Alone in Mild to Moderate Bronchiolitis
Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 2000; 39(4): 213 - 220.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
R. C. Cohn
Relation Between Pulse Oximetry and Clinical Score in Children with Acute Wheezing Less than 24 Months of Age
Clinical Pediatrics, March 1, 2000; 39(3): 192 - 193.
[PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
M. MODL, E. EBER, E. WEINHANDL, W. GRUBER, and M. S. ZACH
Assessment of Bronchodilator Responsiveness in Infants with Bronchiolitis . A Comparison of the Tidal and the Raised Volume Rapid Thoracoabdominal Compression Technique
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 1, 2000; 161(3): 763 - 768.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. M. Bülow, M. Nir, E. Levin, B. Friis, L. L. Thomsen, J. E. Nielsen, J.-C. Holm, T. Møller, M. E. Bonde-Hansen, and H. E. Nielsen
Prednisolone Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Randomized Controlled Trial of 147 Infants
Pediatrics, December 1, 1999; 104(6): 77e - 77.
[Abstract] [Full Text]