Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Bronchiolitis in Patients With Either Eczema and or Family History of Asthma

Summary

The investigators hypothesized that oral Dexamethasone in addition to nebulized Salbutamol will improve the Bronchiolitis Clinical Severity Score,duration of treatment in the short stay unit,need for hospitalization and readmissions to the pediatric emergency in a subgroup of patients diagnosed as Bronchiolitis with either eczema and or a parental or sibling history of Asthma. Two groups randomized will be given Nebulized Ventolin plus either oral Dexamethasone or placebo for 5 days. Bronchiolitis severity score plus vital signs will be recorded regularly until patient is fit for discharge. Patients will be discharged on Ventolin inhaler and to complete the five days course of oral Dexamethasone Patients will be followed up for 7 days post discharge by telephone.

Timeline

Start

2010-02

Primary completion

2012-08

Completion

2012-08

Drugs

Indications