Bronchiolitis

Thomas Bourke1, Michael Shields

  • 1Emergency Department, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, UK.

BMJ Clinical Evidence
|April 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This systematic review examines interventions for infant bronchiolitis, a common respiratory infection. It found 59 studies on treatments, prophylactic measures, and hospital transmission prevention, evaluating their effectiveness and safety.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Bronchiolitis is the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection in infants.
  • It exhibits a distinct seasonal incidence, peaking in winter or rainy seasons.
  • Bronchiolitis is a primary cause for pediatric hospitalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the effectiveness of prophylactic interventions for high-risk children with bronchiolitis.
  • To assess measures for preventing bronchiolitis transmission within hospital settings.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of various treatments for bronchiolitis.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review methodology was employed.
  • Searches were conducted across major databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library) up to July 2010.
  • Inclusion criteria encompassed systematic reviews, RCTs, and observational studies; harms alerts were also considered.

Main Results:

  • A total of 59 relevant studies met the inclusion criteria.
  • The GRADE system was utilized to evaluate the quality of evidence for interventions.
  • Data on a wide range of interventions were compiled and analyzed.

Conclusions:

  • The review synthesizes evidence on the effectiveness and safety of numerous interventions for bronchiolitis.
  • Interventions discussed include antibiotics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and nursing protocols.
  • The findings provide a comprehensive overview for managing infant bronchiolitis.
Abstract

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