IV Magnesium Doesn't Reduce Time to Improvement for Acute Bronchiolitis

Researchers performed a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of single-dose intravenous (IV) magnesium in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis. At a pediatric emergency department in Qatar, 162 infants aged 22 days to 18 months with moderate to severe bronchiolitis were randomized to a single dose of 100 mg/kg IV magnesium or placebo. Children were excluded if they were born at or before 34 weeks' gestation, were admitted to the intensive care unit, or had history of wheezing, O₂ saturation <85% on room air, contraindications to magnesium, or congenital heart disease. All children received 5 mL of nebulized 5% hypertonic saline in 1 mL of 1:1000 epinephrine; children with eczema or family history of asthma received dexameth…