Inhalation with bronchodilator combination effective in reducing length of hospital stay in children with pneumonia

Objective

This study aimed to examine the correlation between inhalation therapy and length of hospital stay in children under age of five with pneumonia.

Method

This cross-sectional study included 102 consecutive patients (secondary data) with pneumonia. The patients were divided depending on the type of therapy they received: Group I used inhalation therapy with bronchodilator β-agonist + NaCl 0,9%, Group II used inhalation therapy with bronchodilator β-agonist and anticholinergic + NaCl 0,9%, Group III used inhalation therapy with NaCl 0,9%, and Group IV used no inhalation therapy.

Results

The study results showed a significant correlation between the use of inhalation therapy and the length of hospital stay (p = 0.000) after being controlled age, leucocyte count, and the type of antibiotic therapy. However, there was no significant correlation between the use of inhalation therapy and the length of hospital stay in children under the age of five with pneumonia after sex and oxygen therapy being controlled.

Conclusions

Inhalation therapy with a combination of bronchodilator β-agonist and anticholinergic + NaCl 0.9% and with bronchodilator β-agonist + NaCl 0.9% are the two most effective treatments with which to reduce the length of hospital stay in toddlers with pneumonia.