Nebulization with saline solution, although commonly used to
alleviate respiratory symptoms, particularly in children, is often
questioned concerning its effectiveness. In this study, we
investigated the effects of isotonic saline nebulization on lung
function in 40 children (mean age of 14±1 years) suffering from
different types of airway disorders. Measurements were carried
out directly before and up to 15 min after nebulization, for six
days in a row, always on the same day time in the morning. The
children were divided into two study groups according to the
baseline ratio of forced expired volume in one second/forced vital
capacity (FEV1/FVC), below and above 80 %. We found
significant improvements after saline nebulization in FEV1, midexpiratory flow at 50 % and 75 % of FVC (MEF50 and MEF75),
and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the group with the baseline
FEV1/FVC less than 80 %. In contradistinction, children with an
index greater than 80 % displayed no appreciable changes in the
lung function variables when compared with the baseline level
before saline nebulization. We conclude that isotonic saline
nebulization might mitigate the functional signs of threatening
pulmonary obstruction and as such may be clinically useful in
pediatric patients with mild respiratory problems.