BACKGROUND: Nebulized adrenaline is used as preferred treatment in addition to supportive care in bronchiolitis but it causes tachycardia. Nebulized 3% saline and normal saline are also used. Few studies compared these 3 in efficacy and safety.

MATERIAL AND METHODS-Observational analytical study including 90 Children divided in 3 groups, aged 2-24 months, presenting with bronchiolitis. Length of hospital stay and treatment failure at 24 hours were the primary outcomes .Clinical scoring system by Uyan et al was used. Group A received Epinephrine, Group B received HS and Group C received NS. Patients enrolled successively in three groups. Scores and heart rate were monitored at 24 hours. Increase in score of 2 or more (from admission score) or heart rate above 200 or 10% increase over baseline, considered as treatment failure

RESULTS: Baseline characters of patients in three groups were similar. CS scores at admission were 7.8 in group A, 7.4 in group B and 7.6 in group C. After 24 hours, percentage decrease in CS score after inhalation therapy was better for group A (70%) and B (64%) compared to group C (16%). Score worsened in 2 patients of group A 3 patients of group B and 5 patients of group C, while 3 patients of adrenaline group were excluded due to tachycardia. Length of hospital stay was lower in group A and B (57.1 AND 55.7) compared to group C (74.8)

CONCLUSION Nebulized 3% saline and adrenaline are comparable but more effective than normal saline. Adrenaline has side effects of tachycardia.