A double-blind cross-over study of nebulised sodium cromoglycate (SCG) was carried out on 27 asthmatic pre-school children over a one year period. All subjects had sufficiently severe asthma to have had at least one hospital admission. The active treatment was SCG 20 mg in 2 ml administered by nebuliser 4 times daily. Assessment was made by diary card and clinical examination.Results were analysed in 24 subjects who completed the study. Statistical analysis allowed for treatment order and seasonal effects. Significant results in favour of SCG were obtained for night cough, day activity, percentage of symptom free days and overall asthma severity. During active treatment there was no reduction in hospital admission rate or intravenous drugs used. The wheeze score in the week after an upper respiratory infection was not reduced during SCG treatment.Nebulised SCG is tedious prophylactic treatment for the very young asthmatic child, but worth a trial when other therapies have failed.
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