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Updated in 2/6/2019 12:02:25 PM      Viewed: 439 times      (Journal Article)
Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (2019)

Review shows substantial variations in the use of medication for infant bronchiolitis between and within countries.

Matti Korppi , Minna Mecklin , Paula Heikkilä
ABSTRACT
Meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials on infant bronchiolitis do not support medication. We summarised the current data and evaluated the real-life use of medication for infants treated for bronchiolitis in hospitals, including paediatric wards, emergency departments and paediatric intensive care units (PICU).We searched PubMed for studies published from 2009-2018 that provided data on the real-life use of adrenaline, salbutamol, corticosteroids or antibiotics for infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis.The review identified 10 such studies and showed substantial variations in medication for infant bronchiolitis between different countries and even between different hospitals in the same country. A multi-centre study including 38 hospitals in eight countries reported that a mean of 29% infants admitted for bronchiolitis received drugs without any research-based evidence on their effectiveness, ranging from 9% in Australia and New Zealand to 58% in Spain and Portugal. In addition, an American prospective multi-centre study of 16 PICUs reported that bronchodilators were used by a mean of 60%, corticosteroids by 33% and antibiotics by 63%. Other studies reported that higher ages and a history of wheezing increased the use of medication.There were substantial variations in bronchiolitis treatment between, and within, different countries. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1111/apa.14713      ISSN: 0803-5253