Bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection that often leads to hospitalization in infants. The use of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline for treating bronchiolitis is being explored as an alternative to Salbutamol. In nebulizers, normal saline serves as a diluent, allowing water molecules or drugs to be inhaled into the lungs. However, there has been limited research on this topic, and no local trials have been conducted.
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of 3% hypertonic saline and Salbutamol in treating bronchiolitis. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Department of Pediatric Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, over one year, involving 100 infants divided into two groups: one receiving 3% hypertonic saline and the other receiving Salbutamol. The RDAI score will be evaluated before and during treatment to assess recovery time. Data will be collected using a proforma and analyzed with SPSS v25. The study aims to determine which treatment leads to faster symptom control and shorter hospital stays, with significance defined as a p-value ≤0.05. The findings will guide future treatment choices for infants with bronchiolitis.
Infants aged 2-24 months
Gender; Both Male and female patients.
Presenting with bronchiolitis (as per operational definition)
Congenital heart disease
Immune deficiency