Wheezy bronchitis: results of treatment with ketotifen.

The authors consider that infants and young children with recurrent obstructive bronchitis require systematic follow-up care and treatment. To evaluate the severity of the disease, a rating scale was developed. Using this criteria, the severity of the disease in 132 infants and young children was evaluated. The patients were divided into a group of more severely ill and a group of less severely ill patients. The members of the more severely ill group were given long-term prophylactic treatment with ketotifen at a dose of 0.5 to 1.0 mg twice daily, in addition to standard symptomatic medication. Treatment with ketotifen afforded a decrease, although insignificant, in the number of coughing attacks, a significant decrease in the number of episodes of dyspnoea (p less than 0.025) and a significant decrease in the number of episodes of airway obstruction (p less than 0.0005). The authors conclude that patients with recurrent severe obstructive bronchitis should be given prophylactic treatment with ketotifen either during autumn and winter or throughout the year, depending on the severity of the symptoms.