Seven Percent Hypertonic Saline—0.1% Hyaluronic Acid in Infants With Mild-To-Moderate Bronchiolitis

Summary. Objectives: Our study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1%hyaluronicacid (7% HS‐HA)given by inhalation, in infantshospitalized for mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis. Methods: In a double-blind controlled study, 39 infants (23 boys) <7 months of age (median age 2 months) were enrolled and randomlyassigned to receive either nebulized 7% HS‐ HA (7%NaCl þ0.1%HA) (n:21) or 0.9 normal saline (NS) (n:18) at a dose of 2.5ml twice a day for 3 days. All infants were assigned a clinical severity score at admission and four times daily during hospitalization. Main outcome measures were number of days hospitalization, safety and daily reduction in the severity score. Results: No difference was found between the two groups for clinical severity score at admission. One child in the study group and two in the NS group interruptedthestudyprotocol; 19%of infantsin the studygroup and11% inthe NSgroup hadmild cough after the aerosol. The length of stay in the control group and treatment groups were 4.8 � 1.5 versus 4.1 � 1.9 days, respectively (P ¼0.09). There was a trend for shortening the hospitalization days in the treatment group by 14.6%. The use of NS in the control group was identified as an independent risk factor for length of hospital stay using the multivariate logistic regression model (P ¼0.04). No difference was observed between the two groups for the clinical score reduction during the first 3 days hospitalization. Conclusions: 7% HS‐HA is a safe and effective therapy in treating infants hospitalized for mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis. Pediatr