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Efficacy and safety of inhaled ambroxol solution in improving sputum of lower respiratory tract infection in children: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Bao-Ping Xu, Peng Han, Yunxiao Shang, Huanji Cheng, Zhiying Han, Lin Zhao, Shaoru He, Min Lu et al.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2025

236 participants · 3 citations

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of inhaled ambroxol solution in improving sputum of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. This study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. The patients were administered inhaled ambroxol or a placebo twice a day for 7 days. And researchers collected efficacy and (or) safety indicators every day during the course. A total of 236 children were randomly assigned to receive ambroxol or placebo (1:1). At all visit points after the medication, the mean difference of cough score with the baseline between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, the phlegm-sound scores in the throat of the experimental group decreased more on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days after administration (P < 0.05). But there was no difference in pulmonary rale scores. The occurrence of adverse events in the experimental group was lower (21.37% vs. 35.59%, P = 0.021), and the incidence of adverse reactions was similar between the two groups (2.56% vs. 5.08%, P = 0.499). Inhaled ambroxol solution could improve the sticky sputum symptoms in children with LRTIs and is safe in clinical application. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. The study was retrospectively registered on June 14, 2023, at https://www.chictr.org.cn/ under the number ChiCTR2300072466.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 236 participants or records.

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