Table 2

Recommended starting doses and dose intervals for children under 5 (maximum doses and minimum dose intervals for domiciliary use in brackets)

Age (years) Device Relief Prevention
0–2MDI spacer+
face mask2-a 		Salbutamol 200 μg
6 hourly (1 mg 3 hourly)		Beclomethasone 50−200 μg (600 μg) 12 hourly
Terbutaline 250 μg
6 hourly (2.5 mg 3 hourly)		Fluticasone 25−100 μg
(250 μg) 12 hourly
Ipratropium bromide 125 μg
6 hourly (250 μg 6 hourly)2-b 		Budesonide 50−200 μg
(600 μg) 12 hourly
Cromoglycate 5−10 mg
6−8 hourly2-c
NebuliserSalbutamol 2.5 mg 6 hourly
(3 hourly)		Budesonide up to 1000 μg 12 hourly
Terbutaline 5 mg 6 hourly
(3 hourly)		Cromoglycate 20 mg
6−8 hourly2-c
Ipratropium bromide 250 μg
6 hourly2-b
>2–5MDI+spacerSalbutamol 200 μg 6 hourly
(1 mg 3 hourly)		Cromoglycate 10 mg
6−8 hourly
Terbutaline 500 μg 6 hourly
(2.5 mg 3 hourly)		Beclomethasone 50−200 μg (800 μg) 12 hourly
Budesonide 50−200 μg
(600 μg) 12 hourly
Fluticasone 25−100 μg
(250 μg) 12 hourly
NebuliserSalbutamol 2.5−5 mg 6 hourly
(3 hourly)		Budesonide up to 1000 μg 12 hourly
Terbutaline 5−10 mg 6 hourly
(3 hourly)

  • ↵2-a Higher doses and concentrations may be required for the youngest children because of the inefficiency of delivery devices.

  • ↵2-b Ipratropium bromide should be administered no more than 6 hourly to avoid atropine-like toxicity.

  • ↵2-c Not recommended for infants.