Normal Saline vs Hypertonic Saline in the Treatment of Bronchiolitis

Background: Bronchiolitis is one of the most common and costly respiratory diseases in infants and young children. Despite the high prevalence and morbidity of bronchiolitis, therapy remains controversial. Supportive care ensuring adequate hydration and oxygenation remains the cornerstone of therapy for these infants. Over the past 2 decades, research on bronchiolitis management has explored the use of nebulized hypertonic saline that rehydrate the airway surface liquid and improve mucociliary clearance, as well as reduce airway edema. Aim:The aim of this study is to investigate whether the addition of frequently nebulized hypertonic saline to standard therapy affects the length of stay (LOS) of moderately ill infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis.