Salbutamol in the treatment of asthmatic children. A comparison of oral and inhalation therapy alone and in combination.

In 10 children with asthma and reversible bronchial obstruction the effect on lung function (VC, FVC and FEV1) of salbutamol was tested comparing oral administration, inhalation or a combination of both. The oral treatment was carried out as a randomized double-blind salbutamol-placebo cross-over study followed by inhalation of salbutamol in all patients. In agreement with previous findings in adults, the study showed a significant increase of FEV1, FVC and VC (P less than 0.005) after oral salbutamol. Combined oral and inhalation medication of salbutamol gave a significantly higher increase of FEV1, VC (P less than 0.01) and FVC (P less than 0.05) when compared with oral therapy only. Compared with salbutamol inhalation only, the combined therapy gave a significantly higher FEV1 (P less than 0.01). The relatively high oral dose used produced no side effects.