Introduction

Acute bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory infection in infants under two years of age, peaking in the first six months of infancy. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the primary cause. Symptoms include nasal congestion, cough, wheezing, and, in severe cases, hypoxia and dehydration. Management is mainly supportive, focusing on oxygen, hydration, and minimal handling, while avoiding routine bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or antibiotics. Nebulized hypertonic saline (3%) shows promise in reducing airway edema and improving clearance, potentially shortening illness and hospitalization, though evidence and adoption remain inconsistent globally.

Aim

To compare the efficacy of 3% hypertonic saline nebulization with 0.9% normal saline in infants with acute bronchiolitis.

Method

Study Design

Patient Inclusion Criteria

Treatment Strategy

• A total of 60 infants were randomized into 2 groups
  1. Group A (Intervention group) – received 3% hypertonic saline nebulization every 8 hours; n=30
  2. Group B (Control group) – received 0.9% normal saline nebulization every 8 hours; n=30
• Nebulization was delivered via a jet nebulizer connected to an oxygen source at 6–8 L/min using a face mask
• All patients received standard supportive care, including oxygen supplementation, adequate hydration, and continuous monitoring of vital signs.

Endpoints

Primary Endpoint

Secondary Endpoints

• Duration of hospital stay
• Duration of oxygen supply requirement
• Adverse events (AEs)

Results

• The demographics and clinical characteristics of both the groups were similar
• Significant improvements in the CSS were seen on days 3 and 5; with a more pronounced improvement on day 5 as seen in Table 1.
• Group A had a shorter duration of hospitalization as well as oxygen requirement as compared to group B as seen in Table 1.

Table 1. Comparison of clinical outcomes 

Conclusion

Eur J Cardiovasc Med. 2025;15(4):593-595.