Study of Dexamethasone in Infants with Acute Bronchiolitis: A Clinical Trial

Background and Objective: Acute bronchiolitis during infancy is the most common cause of respiratory tract infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single intramuscular injection of dexamethasone on infants less than ۲ years old suffering from acute bronchiolitis. Materials and Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical trial, sampling was random and from available patients. Eighty infants under ۲ years of age were admitted to the Mohammad Kermanshahi hospital. With the first episode of wheezing in the emergency department, bronchiolitis was diagnosed. The patients were randomly divided into ۲ groups, a drug group (۱mg/kg dexamethasone) and a placebo group. The primary outcome was RDAI score, ۴ hours after arrival and the secondary outcome was RDAI score, ۷ days after arrival. Results: A difference in the average of RDAI score at the time of arrival in the dexamethasone group (۴ ±۱.۴۹) versus placebo group (۴.۲۹ ±۱.۴) was not statistically significant. The mean RDAI score ۴ hours after arrival in the dexamethasone group was ۱.۷±۱.۲, while in the placebo group it was ۳.۶۶±۱.۰۷. Mean RDAI score ۷ days after arrival in the dexamethasone group was ۰.۵±۰.۴ while in the placebo group it was ۰.۸۵±۰.۷۱ which is significant. Conclusion: Based on these results, it seems that a single dose of intramuscular dexamethasone in infants with acute bronchiolitis was effective in reducing RDAI score ۴ hours and ۷ days after arrival.

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Keywords: Dexamethasone ، Bronchiolitis ، RDAI score ، Infant