[Treatment of acute crises of bronchial asthma in children using subcutaneous salbutamol as an alternative to adrenaline: comparative study].

A prospective study has been made in order to asses the efficacy of subcutaneous salbutamol as acute treatment for asthmatic crisis, comparing the results with those of adrenaline. The series consisted of 30 cases, divided into two groups according to the administered treatment, with ages ranging between 5 to 18 years. Once the clinical examination and spirometric measurements were made the first group was treated with subcutaneous adrenaline 0.1 cc/kg (max.; 0.5 cc), while the second was treated with subcutaneous salbutamol 20 micrograms/kg (max.: 500 micrograms). A clinical and spirometric examination was performed at 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes. A similar increase in FEV1 was observed in the two groups at 15 minutes, maintaining this increase for 90 minutes in the group treated with salbutamol and decreasing in the group treated with adrenaline, being the difference statistically significant (p less than 0.001). In view of this results it seems advisable to administer subcutaneous salbutamol as urgent treatment for an acute asthmatic crisis.