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Abbreviated aerosol therapy has been suggested to increase compliance by delivering the same therapeutic dose, but more rapidly than traditional aerosol therapy. A new spacer mouth mask, which is recommended for use in abbreviated aerosol therapy, is now available in Italy. The aim of this study was to compare traditional and abbreviated salbutamol aerosol therapy in 30 asthmatic children using the new spacer mouth mask. Thirty asthmatic children (18 boys and 12 girls; aged 4-13 years) were evaluated during severe asthma attacks (forced expiratory volume at 1 second [FEV(1)] <60% of the predicted value) and randomly allocated to treatment with two different schedules of aerosol therapy. Aerosol therapy was administered to group A in the usual manner, with patients breathing in and out at tidal volume until the nebulizer bowl was empty. Group B received therapy with the new spacer mouth mask used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, i.e., placing the mask tightly over the mouth and instructing the child to breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose a total of five times at tidal volume, keeping the mouth open. The amount of drug available to patients in group A was approximately 768 microg, whereas 176 microg was available to those in group B. The FEV(1) increased in all patients and there was no difference in the degree of improvement between the groups (p < 0.05). The results indicate equivalent bronchodilatation between abbreviated and traditional aerosol therapy but because abbreviated therapy takes less time, it may improve compliance.