The efficacy of nebulized salbutamol, magnesium sulfate, and salbutamol/magnesium sulfate combination in moderate bronchiolitis.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this paper is to compare the effect of nebulized magnesium sulfate to nebulized salbutamol and salbutamol/magnesium sulfate on successful discharge from the emergency department. A total of 56 infants were included in this double-blinded, prospective study. Infants were grouped according to the nebulized treatment they received: group 1-salbutamol/normal saline, group 2-magnesium sulfate and normal saline, and group 3-salbutamol plus magnesium sulfate. Heart beat, bronchiolitis, clinical severity scores (CSS), and oxygen saturation of the patients were determined before and after nebulization (0, 1, 4 h). The patients were monitored for adverse reactions. Post-treatment mean CSS results were significantly lower than pre-treatment scores in all groups at 4 h with no significant difference within groups. CSS scores were lower in the salbutamol/magnesium sulfate group when compared with the magnesium sulfate and salbutamol groups (3.4 (2.4-4.3), 4.7 (3.8-5.7), 4.0 (3.2-4.3)). CSS were significantly lower than those from the magnesium sulfate group. CONCLUSION: Nebulized magnesium sulfate plus salbutamol may have additive effects for improving the short-term CSS.