Effects of using montelukast during acute wheezing attack in hospitalized preschool children on the discharge rate and the clinical asthma score.

Abstract

In chronic asthma treatment, leukotriene receptor antagonists have been recommended, but it is not clear whether montelukast can be used in acute recurrent wheezing attacks in children. To investigate the safety and effectiveness of oral montelukast in addition to standard treatment in hospitalized children aged between 6 and 72 months with acute recurrent wheezing attacks. One hundred patients aged between 6 and 72 months who had wheezing attacks with clinical asthma scores (CAS) ≥3 and were hospitalized were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. All the patients included in the study were given 0.15 mg/kg (maximum 5 mg) nebulized salbutamol (8 L/min and with 100% O2 ) with 4 hof intervals, 1 mg/kg prednisolone (maximum 5 days), nebulized ipratropium bromide (total eight doses) with 6 hof intervals. In addition to this treatment, one group received 4 mg montelukast, and the other group received a placebo. The CASof the patients were evaluated with 4-hintervals. Total hospital length of stay (LOS) was not different between the montelukast and placebo groups (p = 0.981). There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in terms of discharge time, CAS, and oxygen saturation (p ≥ 0.05). Adding montelukast to standard treatment in patients hospitalized for moderate-to-severe wheezing attacks did not affect hospital LOS and CAS.