Is nebulised hypertonic saline useful as an adjunctive treatment for acute bronchiolitis in infants and children less than 24 months of age?

摘要

A 5-month-old boy presents to the Emergency Department with a 3-day history of coryza and cough, increased work of breathing and difficulty feeding. He is tachypnoeic with a respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute and has moderate subcostal recession. A diagnosis of viral bronchiolitis is made and the infant is admitted to hospital for supportive care and observation. His 10-month-old cousin was recently admitted to another hospital with bronchiolitis and received nebulised saline treatment. His mother enquires whether this treatment would be beneficial for her infant.