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Published on: November 4, 2010

Clinical and therapeutic variables influencing hospitalisation for bronchiolitis in a community-based paediatric

Baha Al-Shawwa1, Nidal Al-Huniti, Miles Weinberger

  • 1Instructor of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. balshaww@mcw.edu

Primary Care Respiratory Journal : Journal of the General Practice Airways Group
|March 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early oral corticosteroid treatment for infants with bronchiolitis may reduce hospitalisation, particularly in those with a family history of asthma or allergies, or who are RSV-negative.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants.
  • Hospitalisation rates vary based on clinical factors and treatment interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of clinical characteristics and treatments on infant hospitalisation for bronchiolitis in an outpatient setting.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for infants under two years with a first wheezing episode.
  • Primary outcome: hospitalisation within ten days of outpatient evaluation.

Main Results:

  • 17% of 320 infants were hospitalised; younger age, RSV positivity, and tobacco smoke exposure were linked to higher hospitalisation.
  • Oral corticosteroids were associated with reduced hospitalisation in infants with a family history of asthma/allergic rhinitis and in RSV-negative infants.

Conclusions:

  • Outpatient oral corticosteroid treatment may lower hospitalisation rates for bronchiolitis in specific infant subgroups.
  • Identifying high-risk infants and tailoring early treatment can potentially reduce hospital admissions.
Abstract

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