Using oral prednisolone to treat wheezing in young children with rhinovirus

Oral Prednisolone for Acute Rhinovirus Induced Wheezing in Children Less Than 2 Years of Age: a Point-of-care Testing Guided Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

PHASE4 · University of Oulu · NCT05444699

This study tests if giving young children with wheezing from a rhinovirus a medication called oral prednisolone can help them breathe better.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment210 (estimated)
Ages6 Months to 24 Months
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Oulu (other)
Locations2 sites (Kokkola and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05444699 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This trial evaluates the effectiveness of oral prednisolone in treating acute wheezing caused by rhinovirus in children aged 6 to 24 months. The treatment is guided by point-of-care testing to confirm the presence of rhinovirus. Participants will receive prednisolone sodium phosphate along with sugar syrup. The study aims to determine if this intervention can improve outcomes for young children experiencing wheezing bronchitis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 6 to 24 months diagnosed with wheezing bronchitis and requiring salbutamol treatment, with confirmed rhinovirus infection.

Not a fit: Patients who may not benefit include those with serious respiratory conditions requiring immediate resuscitation or those with other viral infections not caused by rhinovirus.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a more effective management option for young children suffering from wheezing due to rhinovirus infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored corticosteroid use in respiratory conditions, but this specific approach using point-of-care testing for rhinovirus is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Wheezing bronchitis diagnosed by a physician
* Need for salbutamol treatment at the emergency department
* Positive nasopharyngeal rhinovirus or picornavirus finding in point-of-care testing

Exclusion Criteria:

* Need for immediate resuscitation
* Immediate transfer to ICU
* Suspected pneumonia based on the auscultation finding
* Suspected serious bacterial infection
* Other respiratory virus finding in the absence of rhinovirus or picornavirus
* Positive respiratory syncytial virus finding
* Positive SARS-coronavirus-2 finding
* Positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae finding
* Positive Bordetella pertussis finding
* Contact with a person with chickenpox within 14 days
* Active chickenpox
* Suspected foreign body of the respiratory tract
* Immunosuppressive treatment
* Systemic corticosteroid treatment within 14 days
* Allergy to corticosteroids

Where this trial is running

Kokkola and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Bronchiolitis Acute Viral

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.