Abstract
The frequency of emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations of 33 asthmatic children (ages 1–12) were reviewed from 1 year before to 1 year after institution of home nebulizer use. Both types of visit decreased significantly with nebulizer use. Looking at individual age groups, the decrease in ER visits was significant for each age group up to 5 years of age. Hospitalizations decreased significantly only for the 1–2-year age group. The decrease in ER visits was significant regardless of the medications used before nebulizer use. However, the hospitalization rate did not decrease in patients old enough to use inhaled medications. These results were the same for patients seen in allergy clinic and in a general pediatric clinic. Home nebulizers are a safe and effective way to reduce the morbidity due to asthma.
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