Bronchiolitis in Infants Placebo Versus Epinephrine and Dexamethasone Study

We hypothesize that infants with bronchiolitis treated with inhaled epinephrine in the Emergency Department (ED) and a 2-day course of oral dexamethasone will have fewer hospitalizations over 7 days compared to infants treated with placebo. To examine this hypothesis, we will conduct a phase III, multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial. Infants presenting to one of twelve study EDs will be enrolled to one of two study groups: (1) inhaled epinephrine and oral dexamethasone or (2) inhaled placebo and oral placebo. Our primary outcome will be admission for bronchiolitis by day 7 following the enrolment. As a planned secondary analysis, a between-group comparison of the primary outcome will be performed in those patients presenting with a first episode of bronchiolitis.