The role of disodium cromoglycate-metered dose aerosol inhaler in the management of asthma in Thai children.

Metered dose aerosol inhaler of disodium cromoglycate (Intal) has been recently introduced to facilitate the ease of administration of the drug over its previous spincap formulation. We evaluated the efficacy of regular use of metered dose inhaler of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG-MDI) in the daily management of Thai asthmatic children. The study comprised nineteen children with the age range of 8-15 years (mean 11.6 years). During a two week baseline period, the patients recorded their baseline symptom scores, requirement of their asthma medications (medication scores) and their morning/evening peak flow (PEFR) readings. Thereafter, DSCG-MDI was prescribed at the dosage of two puffs (1 mg/puff) four times daily for eight weeks. Patients were examined at two week intervals at which daily score cards along with PEFR records were collected. Significant reduction in the medication scores and in the requirement for maintenance bronchodilators were noted (p less than 0.01) within two weeks of use of the DSCG-MDI. Morning and evening PEFR's increased significantly and this increase reached statistical significance at 4 weeks after the initiation of the treatment (p less than 0.01). No side effects were reported throughout the study; the aerosol was well tolerated. In this open study DSCG-MDI, at a dose of 1 mg four times daily, significantly improved asthma symptoms along with PEFR readings in Thai asthmatic children and reduced the need for concomitant asthma medications.