The response of asthmatic children to the heated nebulization of Salbutamol

The effect of a nebulized solution of Salbutamol heated to 37°C was compared with that of Salbutamol nebulized in the standard manner. Forty asthmatic children were assigned randomly to a heated or standard nebulization. Each child received randomly either half or the full recommended dose of Salbutamol on separate occasions. No untoward side effects were observed. Baseline measurements of peak exploratory flow rate (PEFR), forced vital capacity (FVC) and 1 s forced expiratory volume (FEV₁) were not significantly different among the groups. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups when assessed 15 min after treatment, indicating that neither a change in temperature nor in dose had any significant effect on response at this time. It is concluded that at the dosages used there is no advantage in heating nebulized Salbutamol to 37°C. The equipotent effect of half the recommended dose of Salbutamol at both temperatures suggests that the recommended dose of Salbutamol is too high and that the lowest optimal dose needs to be ascertained.