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Evidence summaries

Steam Inhalation or Humidified Oxygen for Acute Bronchiolitis in Children

There is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of steam inhalation (mist therapy) or humidified oxygen for acute bronchiolitis in children up to three years of age. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 1 study with 156 children aged between 7 weeks and 24. The aim of the review was to evaluate the effect of steam inhalation or humidified oxygen to relieve respiratory distress and to evaluate adverse events in children up to three years old with acute bronchiolitis.

Participants were randomised into three groups: nebulised salbutamol, nebulised saline and mist in a tent. All three groups were administered oxygen during the procedures. The results showed a significant decrease in respiratory distress symptom (RDS) score in the nebulised salbutamol group but no significant decrease in the RDS score in the mist in a tent or nebulised saline groups. The study did not report on adverse effects of the interventions.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment and blinding), by indirectness (large number of atopic individuals enrolled in the study), and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).

    References

    • Umoren R, Odey F, Meremikwu MM. Steam inhalation or humidified oxygen for acute bronchiolitis in children up to three years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(1):CD006435. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords