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A neglected problem of developing countries: Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
Arzu Babayigit1, Duygu Olmez, Nevin Uzuner
1Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Balcova, 35340, Izmir, Turkey. arbabayigit@yahoo.com
Insights
This study identified common causes of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children, finding infections and asthma most frequent. Identifying the etiology is key for effective management and reducing complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Bronchiectasis, defined as permanent bronchial dilation, remains a significant health issue, particularly in developing nations.
- Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) in children presents unique diagnostic and management challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize children diagnosed with NCFB.
- To determine the underlying etiological factors contributing to NCFB in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 66 children (1-17 years) with NCFB confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography.
- Data collection included clinical symptoms, onset age, physical examination, laboratory findings, identified etiologies, and treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- The most common symptoms were cough (100%) and sputum production (50%).
- An underlying cause was identified in 66.7% of cases.
- Top etiologies included infections (21.2%), asthma (16.7%), aspiration/GERD (9.1%), and immunodeficiency (7.6%).
Conclusions:
- Establishing the etiology of NCFB is crucial for guiding patient management.
- Identifying the cause can potentially reduce the incidence, progression, and complications of bronchiectasis.
Background:
Bronchiectasis has been defined as the abnormal and permanent dilation of the bronchi. It is still an important problem in many developing countries.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to identify the chacteristics and underlying etiology of children followed with the diagnosis of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
Materials And Methods:
Children with bronchiectasis confirmed with high-resolution computed tomography were enrolled into the study. The data of the patients, including symptoms of the disease, age at the onset of symptoms, findings of physical examination, labrotory investigations performed in order to identify the etiology of bronchiectasis, etiology of bronchiectasis if found, radiologic findings and treatment modalities were noted.
Results:
Sixty-six children between 1 and 17 years were included in the study retrospectively. Forty-four of them were males (66.7%) and 22 (33.3%) were females. The most common presenting symptoms were cough (100%) and sputum expectoration (50%). An underlying etiology was identified in 44 (66.7%) of the study subjects. The four most common underlying causes were found as infections (21.2%), asthma (16.7%), aspiration syndromes and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease (9.1%) and immunodeficiency syndromes (7.6%), respectively.
Conclusion:
Identifying an underlying etiology will have a significant effect on the management of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Defining the cause of bronchiectasis may also decrease its incidence, progression and complications.
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