[Characteristics of broncho-obstruction in childhood]

The prevalence of broncho-obstruction in children is in permanent increase at any age and in global. According to many studies, about 50% of children have at least one episode of broncho-obstruction in the first six years of life. Risk factors for broncho-obstruction in children include not only intrinsic, but a lot of extrinsic factors which could accelerate beginning of early symptoms. Globally, there is increase in first hospitalization with broncho-obstruction and many authors described decrease in rehospitalizations, thanks to therapy improvements. There is evidence of seasonal distribution of children treated for broncho-obstruction. Depending on country and author, different periods of year are related to increased number of patients, which could be explained by seasonal agents. Many studies described geographic variation in incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases, which could also be explained by seasonal agents.

The aim of this paper is to establish frequency of broncho-obstructive syndrome, comparing the age, gender, place of inhabitance and seasonal agents in children treated at the Department of Intensive care at the Pediatrics Clinic in Tuzla trough analysis of their personal histories, clinical, radiography and laboratory findings.

Analysis was based on population of patients treated at the Department for Intensive care of Pediatrics Clinic in Tuzla with broncho-obstructive syndrome, from January 1st to 31st December 2006. All selected patients were from Tuzla Canton. Source of the data for research were Admission protocol for Pediatric Clinics, Intensive care unit protocol and personal histories of children treated. Method of work was retrospective study which analyzed anamnesis' data, clinical, radiography and laboratory findings, therapeutic procedures and length of hospitalization at the Intensive care unit and outcome of the treatment.

Total number of 767 children were treated during the investigated period at the Intensive care unit. Out of this number 332 children (43,3%) were treated for syndrome of broncho-obstruction. The frequency of broncho-obstructive syndrome in children was different regarding age, gender, place of inhabitance and year season. Broncho-obstructive syndrome was most common at nursing age (40,0%) and 76,5% patients were under age of five. Boys dominated at all age groups except for repeated admissions of school age where this relation was equal. Spatial distribution demonstrated that the highest number of children treated for broncho-obstruction was from Tuzla, Lukavac and Zivinice. The incidence of patients from these municipalities was significantly above the participation of these municipalities in total population. Season distribution demonstrated that the highest numbers of children were treated in December, and lowest in July and August. Number of treated children was statistically significant higher during winter months. Broncho-obstructive syndrome in 67,5% patients was with radiography confirmed pneumonia and in 13,8% with lung athelectasis. The most common isolated agents were Staphylococcus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas.

The frequency of broncho-obstructive syndrome in children was different regarding age, gender, place of inhabitance and year season. Broncho-obstructive syndrome was found in 67,5% patients with radiography confirmed pneumonia.