| Methods |
Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.
Parallel group design.
Randomisation: Not described. Blinding: Double dummy. Concealment: Unclear.
Jadad's score 4. |
| Participants |
62 participants randomised (12 others considered but responded to nebuliser). 21 in each group.
Age 2 ‐ 14 months.
Acute episode of wheeze with at least one previous episode. 75% with family history of atopy, 65 % parent who smoked.
Exclusion if other significant cardiorespiratory illness (i.e. BPD ). |
| Interventions |
Salbutamol syrup 1mg tds (2mg for over 12 months old) for 5 days then as required for up to 9 days.
Placebo ‐ not described but looked identical. |
| Outcomes |
Symptom score recorded for two weeks. Treatment failures (non‐responders) defined as readmission within 2 weeks or still symptomatic at two weeks. |
| Notes |
All participants had initially failed a single nebulised dose of salbutamol or ipratropium bromide. Three treatment groups. Prednisolone tablets plus salbutamol syrup, Placebo tablets and salbutamol syrup, and Placebo tablets and syrup. Comparing latter two groups in this review. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
Information not available (Cochrane Grade B) |
