Nebulized 3% Hypertonic Saline in the Treatment of Acute Bronchiolitis

Inclusion Criteria:

- Children 2-12 months of age presenting to Emergency Department

- Patients with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis defined as the first episode of wheezing
and/or crackles in a child younger than 12 months who has physical findings of a viral
respiratory infection and has no other explanation for the wheezing and/or crackles

- Patients with an RDAI score ≥ 6 as measured by a trained respiratory therapist

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previous history of wheezing

- Known heart or lung disease

- Premature birth defined as birth before 37 weeks gestation

- Immunosuppression or immunodeficiency

- Treatment with corticosteroids in the previous 48 hours

- Critically ill children - progressive respiratory failure requiring higher level of
care, vital signs instability/need for emergency interventions to prevent clinical
deterioration

- Oxygen saturation <85% on room air at the time of recruitment