The Effect of Salt Space on Clinical Findings and Peak Expiratory Flow in Children with Mild to Moderate Asthma: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Abstract
The asthma treatment and control might be associated with significant burden on family and community‚ thus exploring other therapeutic plans could be desirable. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salt space on clinical findings and peak expiratory flow rate among children with asthma. In this randomized crossover trial, 34 patients aged 6-14 years old with mild to moderate asthma were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The first group went through a period of salt therapy by staying in the salt room for one hour, three times a week for 3 consecutive weeks and then was under observation for three weeks. This process was reversed for the second group (three weeks under observation followed by salt therapy). The wash-out period was one week. During the study, the morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF), the frequency of coughing, wheezing, dyspnea and use of rescue medications were measured. Salt therapy had a significant effect on raising the morning and evening PEF in the second week in both groups (p=0.028 and p=0.032, respectively). However, there was no significant effect on PEF variabilities‚ cough‚ wheezing, dyspnea, and the frequency of rescue medication (p>0.05). No side effect was observed during salt therapy. This study showed the significant effect of salt therapy on PEF rate of the patients in the second week. However, further studies with different frequency and time of salt therapy on respiratory disorders are recommended.
1. Bateman ED, Hurd SS, Barnes PJ, Bousquet J, Drazen JM, FitzGerald M, et al. Global strategy for asthma management and prevention: GINA executive summary. Eur Respir J 2008; 31(1):143-78.
2. Entezari A, Mehrabi Y, Varesvazirian M, Pourpak Z, Moin M. A systematic review of recent asthma symptom surveys in Iranian children. Chron Respir Dis 2009; 6(2):109-14.
3. Bitsko MJ, Everhart RS, Rubin BK. The Adolescent with Asthma. Paediatr Respir Rev 2013; 15(2):146-53.
4. Ahmadiafshar A, Ghoreishi A, Afkhami Ardakani S, Khoshnevis P, Faghihzadeh S, Nickmehr P. The high prevalence of depression among adolescents with asthma in Zanjan, Iran. Psychosom Med 2016; 78(1):113-4.
5. Ahmadiafshar A, Parchegani MR, Moosavinasab N, Koosha A. A Study of Relation between BCG Scar and Atopy in Schoolchildren of Zanjan City. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 2005; 4(4):185-8.
6. Chervinskaya AV, Zilber NA. Halotherapy for treatment of respiratory diseases. J Aerosol Med 1995; 8(3):221-32.
7. Sandu I, Canache M, Vasilache V, Sandu IG. The effects of salt solions on the health of human subjects. Present Environment and Sustainable Development 2011; 5:67-88.
8. Beamon S, Falkenbach A, Fainburg G, Linde K. Speleotherapy for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001; 2:CD001741.
9. Lăzărescu H, Simionca I, Hoteteu M, Mirescu L. Speleotherapy - modern bio-medical perspectives. J Med Life 2014; 7:76-9.
10. Abdullaev AA, Gadzhiev KM, Eiubova AA. The efficacy of speleotherapy in salt mines in children with bronchial asthma based on the data from immediate and late observations. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult 1993; 5:25-8.
11. Khan MA, Chervinskaia AV, Mikitchenko NA. The use of halotherapy for the health improvement in children at institutions of general education. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult 2012; 2:31-5.
12. Gelardi M, Iannuzzi L, Greco Miani A, Cazzaniga S, Naldi L, De Luca C, et al. Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of Aerosal in the treatment of sub-obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy and related diseases. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 77(11):1818-24.
13. Sandu I, Canache M, Sandu AV, Chirazi M, Mihaescu T, Checherita LE, et al. The influence of NaCl aerosols on weight and height development of children. Environ Monit Assess 2015; 187(2):15.
14. Rashleigh R, Smith SM, Roberts NJ. A review of halotherapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2014; 9:239-46.
15. NAEPP. (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program) Expert panel reports3: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007; 120(suppl):S94–S138.
16. Hedman J, Hugg T, Sandell J, Haahtela T. The effect of salt chamber treatment on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthmatics. Allergy 2006; 61(5):605-10.
17. Weinreich UM, Nilsson T, Mylund L, Christiansen HT, Laursen HS. Salt Halo Therapy and Saline Inhalation Administered to Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study. J Palliat Care Med 2014; 4:1000185.
18. Cernomaz TA, Bolog SG, Mihăescu T. The effect of a dry salt inhaler in adults with COPD. Pneumologia 2007; 56(3):124-7.
19. Rabbani B, Makki SS, Najafizadeh K, Vishteh HR, Shafaghi S, Karimi S, et al. Efficacy of Halotherapy for Improvement of Pulmonary function Tests and Quality of Life of Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectatic Patients. Tanaffos 2013, 12(2):22-7.
20. Xiao M, Zhu T, Wang T, Wen FQ. Hydrogen-rich saline reduces airway remodeling via inactivation of NF-κB in a murine model of asthma. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2013, 17(8):1033-43.
21. Nurov L. Immunologic features of speleotherapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medical and Health Science Journal 2010; 2(44–47).
22. Sandell J, Hedman J, Saarinen K, Haahtela T. Salt chamber treatment is ineffective in treating eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. Allergy 2013, 68(1):125-7.
23. Kotanko P, Skrabal F. Salt and asthma. BMJ 1994; 308(6927):537.
Files | ||
Issue | Vol 16, No 3 (2017) | |
Section | Original Article(s) | |
Keywords | ||
Asthma Children Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) Salt Therapy |
Rights and permissions | |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |