Comparison of the efficacy of montelukast alone,budesonide/formoterol alone,and a combination of the two drugs in children with cough variant asthma
Objective To compare the efficacy of montelukast(Mon)alone,budesonide/formoterol(BF)alone and the combination of the two drugs in the treatment of pediatric cough variant asthma(CVA).Methods Children with CVA treated in Beijing Haidian Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects.According to the treatment plans,the children were divided into Mon group,BF group and combined group.After 8 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate(TER),incidence of adverse effects(TAER),cough symptom scores[daytime cough symptom score(DCSS)and nocturnal cough symptom score(NCSS)],immune functions[tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin-4(IL-4),immunoglobulin E(IgE)],pulmonary functions[forcedexpir-atoryvolumeinonesecond(FEV1),forcedvitalcapacity(FVC)and peak expiratory flow(PEF)]and serum eosinophil count(EOS)were observed.Results A total of 180 children with CVA were selected,with 62 in the Mon group,60 in the BF group,and 58 in the combined group.After treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of TER,TAER,DCSS,NCSS,serum TNF-α,serum IL-4 and serum IgE among the three groups(P>0.05).The FEV1,FVC and PEF of children in the combined group were significantly higher than those in the Mon and BF groups(P<0.05),and the EOS was significantly lower than those in the Mon and BF groups(P<0.05);whereas the differences in FEV1,FVC,PEF and EOS between the Mon and BF groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion Mon or BF can effectively improve cough symptoms and immune function in children with CVA,and its antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects are similar to those of the combination of Mon and BF.In addition,the combination of Mon and BF can further improve the lung function and reduce the serum EOS level in children with CVA.