Comparison of effectiveness of Metered dose inhaler with spacer and Nebulizer in children aged 5-14 years with acute asthma: Randomized Controlled Trial

An informed written consent from parents will betaken. A randomizedcontrolled trial study design will be used. Subjects will be defined asasthmatic children aged 5-14 years who present to paediatric emergency withacute attack of asthma. With the help of computer generated randomization tablethe subjects will be divided into two groups. A sample size of 75 ineach group is taken. Enrolment number will be given toensure identity. Demographic data will be collected including name, father’sname, age, sex and address with phone number. Disease history will include theduration, severity of symptoms based on frequency of day and night symptoms,co-morbidities, family history and current treatment being received.Subjects in group 1 will receive Salbutamol with the helpof MDI and spacer (250ml) thrice at intervals of 20 minutes and subjects ingroup 2 will receive Salbutamol by oxygen driven nebulizer thrice at 20 minutesinterval. The subjects will be repeatedlyassessed to ensure clinical improvement. However, examination to record theparameters that will be used for the comparison of effectiveness by these twodevices will be conducted only four times during the observation period i.e.

• ·        Before giving any therapy
• ·        At 20 minutes duration
• ·        At 40 minutes duration
• ·        At 60 minutes duration.

The following parameters will be used for comparisonby using suitable statistical tests-

• 1.      Respiratoryrate
• 2.      Heartrate
• 3.      Useof accessory muscles
• 4.      Auscultatoryfindings
• 5.      Peakexpiratory flow rate
• 6.      Developmentof tremor
• 7.      PaCO2on Venous Blood Gas Analysis
• 8.      Needfor hospital admission
• 9.      Durationof stay in emergency department