THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRAVENOUS MAGNESIUM SULFATE INFUSION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE SEVERE ASTHMA IN CHILDREN IN THE EMERGENCY SERVICE: MAGNESIUM SULFATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects 15 to 20% of the pediatric population in Brazil, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood. Asthmatic crisis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. This chapter aims to quantify the effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion as a therapy for acute severe asthma in children in the emergency department. To achieve this, a systematic review was conducted using PUBMED and Cochrane databases with the keywords: asthma, children, emergency, and magnesium sulfate, including only articles in Portuguese and English from 2016 to 2022. The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics' Pediatric Treaty book was also consulted. Upon evaluating the eight articles included in the study on the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate in severe asthma crisis in children, it was found that most articles discuss the substance's relationship with its impact on the need for hospitalization, recommending it as an emergency treatment when the first-hour treatment is not responsive or when there is a risk to life. It is then concluded that intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion is effective in reducing the need for hospitalization in children presenting with severe asthma exacerbation.