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Published on: September 11, 2018
[Clinical features of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children]
Xiao-Jun Duan1, Yan-Ping Chen, Jun Qiu
1Second Department of Respiratory Disease, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China. hnchengyanping@163.com.
Insights
Tracheobronchial foreign bodies are common in children under three, especially in rural areas. Early bronchoscopy and targeted health education are crucial for prevention and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Medical Diagnostics
- Public Health
Context:
- Tracheobronchial foreign bodies (TFB) pose a significant risk to pediatric patients.
- Understanding clinical features is vital for timely intervention and prevention.
Purpose:
- To analyze the clinical characteristics of TFB in children.
- To inform the development of effective preventive strategies.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 114 children with TFB, finding most affected were under three years old.
- Higher incidence observed in winter and among rural populations.
- Chest CT sensitivity varied by foreign body location; a history of aspiration reduced misdiagnosis rates.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for focused health education in rural areas for TFB prevention.
- Emphasizes early bronchoscopy for suspected pediatric TFB cases.
- Provides data to guide clinical practice and public health initiatives.
Objective:
To investigate the clinical features of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children and to provide a basis for feasible preventive measures.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 114 children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy between February 2012 and February 2013.
Results:
The majority (71.9%) of children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies were younger than three years old, and the male-to-female ratio was 2:l. The proportion of cases in winter was higher than that in summer. The incidence of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was significantly higher among rural children than among urban children. The positive rate of CT varied significantly for tracheobronchial foreign bodies at different sites, and the patients with tracheal foreign bodies had a significantly lower positive rate of chest CT than patients with foreign bodies in the left and right main bronchi (P<0.01). The misdiagnosis rate in children with a history of aspiration of foreign bodies was significantly lower than in children without one (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
Health education related to the prevention of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children should be conducted primarily in rural areas. Tracheobronchial foreign bodies are common in children younger than three years old. Bronchoscopy should be performed early for suspected cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies.
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