We appreciate the comments by Dr Hakim on our recent article published in the Archives.1 However, we wish to clarify some issues. As mentioned in the "Materials and Methods" section, the demographic data on these patients have previously been described in more detail.2 To sum up, the severity of bronchiolitis was evaluated by measurements of respiratory rate (mean±SD, 52.5±10.9 beats/min; N=100) and oxygen saturation (mean±SD, 93.0%±2.9%, N=100) and assessments of clinical scores based on wheezing and retractions on scale 0 through 17 (mean±SD, 8.8±3.0, N=100). Only 7 patients needed supplemental oxygen to keep arterial oxygen saturation at 90% or higher. The acute dyspnea was treated by elimination of hypoxia by giving supplemental oxygen if needed and by administering nebulized racemic epinephrine or albuterol.2
As mentioned in the "Study Design" subsection of the "Materials and Methods" section,1 the anti-inflammatory therapy was started during the