Rasul C, Khan M.
Salbutamol versus theophylline for wheezy infant.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;51(5):187-9.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the tolerability and efficacy of salbutamol and theophylline in treating wheezy infant. DESIGN: This was a prospective parallel group study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Wheezy infants admitted in paediatric ward of Khulna Medical College Hospital from January 1998 to March 1999. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: Palatability of drugs, clinical efficacy of drugs and adverse events during treatment. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients had undergone this study. Forty eight were was in salbutamol group and 47 in theophylline group. Clinical problem at the beginning was recurrent wheeze (46.3%), wheeze with fever (32.6%) and spasmodic cough (21.1%). Salbutamol was more palatable (P < 0.001) than theophylline. However efficacy of both the drugs were nearly equal (P > 0.1). Adverse effect was more frequent in theophylline treated children (47.4%) than in salbutamol group (24.4%). CONCLUSION: Salbutamol is better tolerated than theophylline whereas both the drugs were equally effective for bronchodilation in infancy.

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