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Acute bronchiolitis: a three year study
1Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch Hospital.
Insights
Acute bronchiolitis in infants and children is common during winter and spring, often caused by respiratory syncytial virus. Most cases are mild, but some require hospitalization and assisted ventilation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Acute bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants and young children.
- It frequently leads to hospital admissions, particularly during specific seasons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of infants and children admitted with acute bronchiolitis.
- To identify the common viral pathogens and assess disease severity and hospitalization duration.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 261 infant and child admissions for acute bronchiolitis between 1986-88.
- Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected for respiratory virus identification.
- Disease severity was assessed using a standardized scoring system.
Main Results:
- A seasonal pattern was observed, with peak admissions in winter and spring.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most frequently identified virus (56%).
- Over half of the children (57%) had mild disease; 25% had severe or very severe illness, with 6 infants requiring assisted ventilation.
Conclusions:
- Acute bronchiolitis exhibits a distinct seasonal prevalence, with RSV being a primary causative agent.
- While most cases are mild, a significant proportion of children experience severe illness requiring hospitalization and supportive care.
- The findings highlight the importance of understanding seasonal trends and viral etiology in managing pediatric acute bronchiolitis.
Abstract:
Over the period 1986-88, 261 infants and children, with a mean age of six months, were admitted to Christchurch Hospital with acute bronchiolitis. There was a marked seasonal pattern, with peak admission periods occurring during winter and spring. Two hundred and two children (77%) had a nasopharyngeal aspirate performed for respiratory virus identification. Respiratory syncitial virus was identified in 113 (56%) of those who had viral studies performed. Using a score of severity, 150 (57%) of the children had a mild disease, 47 (18%) moderate, while 64 (25%) had a severe or very severe illness. The median stay in hospital was two days. No deaths occurred during the study period, although six infants required assisted ventilation.