Effect of Addition of Nebulized Magnesium Sulphate to Standard Therapy in Children with Severe Asthma

Abstract

 Objective: To compare the outcome of addition of nebulized magnesium sulphate to the standard treatment in children with acute severe asthma. Methodology: The trial was undertaken at the emergency of Paediatrics Department, Federal Government Polyclinic (Post Graduate Medical Institute), Islamabad from 1st April to 30th September 2019.Children between 1 to 12 years of age with acute severe asthma were initially nebulized with salbutamol thrice and ipratropium once.All the patients were also given intravenous steroid.Those not responding to this treatment and still classified as acute severe asthma were randomly divided into two groups each having 38 patients.Each patient in Group A received 2.5 ml (150 mg) of isotonic magnesium sulphate via nebulizer, thrice20 minutes apart, while group B received 2.5 ml of isotonic saline via nebulizer, thrice20 minutes apart.Each nebulization also contained salbutamol. Yung Asthma Severity Score (ASS) was determined at the start of treatment, at30 minutes and at 60 minutes of treatment. Results: After 60 minutes, the mean Asthma Severity Score of children in group A was 6.95 ± 1.29 and 7.63 ± 1.03 in group B (p < 0.05). In group A, 18 (47.4%) children were discharged and 20 (52.6%) were admitted in the hospital. In group B, 7 (18.4%) children were discharged while 31 (81.6%) were admitted in the hospital (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that nebulized magnesium sulphate along with salbutamol can give a better outcome than salbutamol alone in children with acute severe asthma.