Effect of Salbutamol Nebulization in Serum Potassium Level in Pediatric Acute Bronchial Asthma

Arunachalam V; Venkatasubramanian R; Heber Anandan; Padmanabhan R

Volume : V, Issue : IX, September - 2016

Effect of Salbutamol Nebulization in Serum Potassium Level in Pediatric Acute Bronchial Asthma

Arunachalam V, Venkatasubramanian R, Heber Anandan, Padmanabhan R

Abstract :

Introduction: Potassium is the second most abundant cation in the body. Most of the drugs used to treat onchial asthma, such as steroids, beta2 agonist, methyl xanthines are known to cause hypokalemia. In view of the cardiac arrhythmias that can accompany excess theophylline hypokaliemia is a serious consequence. Aim: To study the role of salbutamol nebulization dosage in the serum potassium level decline and hypokalemia in children with acute onchial asthma and its effect in recovery from the attack. Method: An observational cohort study was done in Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai. Children 5 month to 12 years of age who are having acute attack of onchial asthma and receiving nebulized salbutamol were screened. All patients enrolled in the study were divided into two groups by the number of nebulized salbutamol doses they received. Group I received two doses of nebulized salbutamol, Group II received three doses of nebulized salbutamol. Results: In Group – I, serum potassium concentration before and after two doses of nebulized salbutamol were 3.95 � 3.8 and 3.73 � 0.46 respectively. The average fall being 0.27 � 0.23. Group – II, serum potassium concentration before and after three doses of nebulized salbutamol was 3.87 � 0.4 and 3.56 � 0.54 respectively. The average fall being 0.3 � 0.33 Conclusion: The fall in serum potassium level is high in children who received more number of doses. Nebulized salbutamol therapy is not associated with severe hypokalemia.