BACKGROUND: Wheeze in @entity950 and early childhood is common and appears to be increasing though the magnitude of any increase is unclear. Most wheezing episodes in @entity950 are precipitated by respiratory viral infections. Treatment of very young @entity1 with wheeze remains controversial. Anti-cholinergics are often prescribed but practice varies widely and the efficacy of this form of therapy remains the subject for debate. OBJECTIVES: Wheeze in @entity950 and early childhood is common and appears to be increasing. Most wheezing episodes in @entity950 are a result of @entity1800 . Bronchodilator medications such as @entity2263 -agonists and anti-cholinergic agents are often used to relieve symptoms, but patterns of use vary. The objective of this review was to assess the effects of anti-cholinergic therapy in the treatment of wheezing @entity1 . SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register and the reference lists of articles. We contacted researchers in the field and industry sources. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials that compared anti-cholinergic therapy with placebo or @entity2263 -agonists in wheezing @entity1 under two years of age. @entity1 with acute @entity5924 and @entity1030 were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Eligibility for inclusion and quality of trials were assessed independently by two reviewers. MAIN RESULTS: Six trials involving 321 @entity1 in three different settings were included. Compared with @entity2263 -agonist alone, the combination of @entity13265 and @entity2263 -agonist was associated with a reduced need for additional treatment, but no difference was seen in treatment response, respiratory rate or @entity26 saturation improvement in the emergency department. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between @entity13265 and placebo; or between @entity13265 and @entity2263 -agonist combined compared with @entity2263 -agonist alone. However, combined @entity13265 and @entity2263 -agonist compared to placebo showed significantly improved clinical scores at 24 hours. Parents preferred @entity13265 over nebulised water or placebo for relief of their @entity1 's symptoms at home. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to support the uncritical use of anti-cholinergic therapy for wheezing @entity1 , although parents using it at home were able to identify benefits.

Anticholinergic drugs for wheeze in XXXX under the age of two years.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'Children', 'infants'] @entity13265 :: ('MESH:D009241', 'Chemical') :: ['ipratropium bromide'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity1800 :: ('MESH:D014777', 'Disease') :: ['viral infection'] @entity5924 :: ('MESH:D001988', 'Disease') :: ['bronchiolitis'] @entity1030 :: ('MESH:D029424', 'Disease') :: ['chronic lung disease'] @entity2263 :: ('10242', 'Gene') :: ['beta2'] @entity950 :: ('MESH:C537702', 'Disease') :: ['infancy']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['children']
