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Abstract
Background. Efficacy of bronchodilator treatment in children with asthma depends on the proper use of inhalation devices. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of inhaled bronchodilator treatment with a spacer and a nebulizer in children with acute asthma findings. Methods. Fifty-eight children with acute asthma findings who received ambulatory inhaled bronchodilator treatment with a nebulizer and 39 with a spacer were enrolled in the study. Duration of asthma, inhaled steroid treatment and the number of exacerbations during the previous year were recorded. Duration of current acute symptoms, exacerbation severity score and duration of respiratory findings after initiation of treatment were also recorded. Results. Children in both groups were similar in age (76.5 ± 30.3 months using a nebulizer vs 83.1 ± 25.1 in spacer group, p = 0.26). Duration after diagnosis of asthma, initiation of inhaled steroid treatment and exacerbation symptoms were similar between groups (p = 0.15, 0.76 and 0.93, respectively). Exacerbation severity score in the nebulizer group was not significantly different from the spacer group (2.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.8 ± 0.7 respectively, p = 0.19). Number of exacerbations in the previous year was not different (2.0 ± 1.2 in the nebulizer group vs 1.6 ± 0.9 in the spacer group, p = 0.08). Duration of acute asthma findings after initiation of inhaled bronchodilator treatment was similar between the two groups (6.5 ± 2.9 vs 7.2 ± 4.6 p = 0.34). Conclusion. Nebulizers and spacers have similar influence on the duration of acute asthma findings in children when used in ambulatory home bronchodilator treatment.