Beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol by metered dose inhaler in infants and small children with recurrent wheezing.

The efficacy of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) to control respiratory symptoms was evaluated in 31 children under age 2 years with recurrent wheezing. The study was conducted in a double-blind, parallel, and placebo-controlled fashion. The two study groups received either salbutamol plus BDP 200 microg bid by metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer, or salbutamol MDI plus a placebo. Inhaled corticosteroid (IC) and placebo were administered for 8 weeks. Patients were seen every 2 weeks as outpatients, and their progress was evaluated by clinical examination and a daily symptom score card. At the end of the study, patients in both groups had significantly decreased symptoms. No significant difference was found between BDP and placebo groups regarding clinical score, number of salbutamol doses, sleep disturbances, number of symptom-free days, feelings of insecurity of mothers regarding the infants' life due to wheezing, and mothers' perceptions of progress in their infants' respiratory symptoms. We conclude that salbutamol plus 200 microg bid of BDP inhaled from an MDI with a spacer for 8 weeks is no better than salbutamol alone for decreasing recurrent wheezing in small children under age 24 months.