NGHIÊN CỨU HIỆU QUẢ CỦA KHÍ DUNG NƯỚC MUỐI ƯU TRƯƠNG 3% TRONG ĐIỀU TRỊ VIÊM TIỂU PHẾ QUẢN CẤP Ở TRẺ TỪ 2 THÁNG ĐẾN 24 THÁNG TUỔI TẠI BỆNH VIỆN ĐA KHOA BÌNH THUẬN NĂM 2025-2026

Abstract

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in young children, with highly variable clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe, even life-threatening respiratory failure. Standard treatment for acute bronchiolitis includes supportive care measures, ensuring gas exchange, fluid replacement, and nutrition for the patient. In addition, hypertonic saline solution has recently been studied as a treatment for acute bronchiolitis in young children.

Objective: 1) To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of acute bronchiolitis in children aged 2 months to 24 months at Binh Thuan General Hospital in 2025-2026. 2) To compare treatment outcomes between two groups (with and without 3% hypertonic saline nebulization) in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children aged 2 months to 24 months at Binh Thuan General Hospital in 2025-2026.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 54 pediatric patients aged 2 months to 24 months admitted to Binh Thuan General Hospital and diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis between May 2025 and February 2026.

Results: Of the 54 children who met the inclusion criteria for the study, 27 received 3% hypertonic saline nebulization as part of their treatment, and 27 received standard treatment. 100% of the children recovered completely and were discharged. Nearly 80% were infants, with 54% being male. Children admitted with bronchiolitis presented with wheezing (100%), coughing (90.8%), no fever (51.9%) or mild fever (22.2%), tachypnea (89.9%), lung crackles (mainly rhonchi 88.8%), moist rales (77.6%), and decreased breath sounds (2%). The highest percentage of children with moderate acute bronchiolitis was 65.7%, followed by mild 25.0%, and the lowest was severe 9.3%. Results recorded 24 hours after nebulization showed a significant improvement in the CSS clinical score in the 3% NaCl nebulization group, with a score of 3.68±1.32; the mean respiratory rate was 40.7±1.9 breaths/minute compared to the group without 3% NaCl nebulization, a statistically significant difference with p<0.05. 93% of children in the 3% hypertonic saline nebulization group regained their appetite and normal feeding habits after 3 days of treatment, compared to 81% of children in the other group, a statistically significant difference with p=0.001.

Conclusion: 3% hypertonic saline nebulization showed clinically significant improvements (p<0.05) as evidenced by clinical severity scores (CSS), risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (RDAI), shorter hospital stay, improved appetite, and improved sleep quality after 3 days of treatment.