Hypertonic Saline and Acute Wheezing in Preschool Children.
BACKGROUND: Most acute wheezing episodes in preschool children are associated with rhinovirus. Rhinovirus decreases extracellular adenosine triphosphate levels, leading to airway surface liquid dehydration. This, along with submucosal edema, mucus plaques, and inflammation, causes failure of mucus clearance. These preschool children do not respond well to available treatments, even oral steroids. This calls for pro-mucus [...]