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Risk Factors and Clinical Determinants in Bronchiolitis of Infancy
Özge Atay1, Sevgi Pekcan1, Bahar Göktürk2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
Insights
This study identified key risk factors for acute viral bronchiolitis in children, including prematurity, smoking exposure, and crowded living conditions. The Asthma Predictive Index (API) can help predict bronchiolitis recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Acute viral bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants and young children.
- Identifying risk factors and predictive markers is crucial for managing the condition and preventing long-term respiratory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify viral pathogens causing bronchiolitis.
- To evaluate clinical prognosis and risk factors for recurrence and severity in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 101 children (2 months-2 years) diagnosed with bronchiolitis were analyzed.
- Nasopharyngeal samples were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Patients were followed for one year to assess recurrence, wheezing, and asthma progression.
Main Results:
- Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequent pathogen (44%).
- Risk factors for increased bronchiolitis frequency included prematurity, crowded housing, urban living, heating stoves, and smoking exposure.
- Crowded housing correlated with wheezing, recurrence, and inhaler need; heating stoves and smoking correlated with severity.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity, smoking, crowded housing with heating stoves, and urban living are significant risk factors for frequent bronchiolitis.
- The Asthma Predictive Index (API) shows potential for predicting bronchiolitis recurrence.
Objectives:
The aims of this study was to demonstrate the viral pathogens, to evaluate the clinical prognosis, risk factors for recurrence, severity of acute viral bronchiolitis episodes among pediatric patients.
Materials And Methods:
Our study included 101 children aged between 2 months and 2 years diagnosed with clinical bronchiolitis between September 2011 and April 2012. The demographics and clinical, laboratory, and radiological results of the patients were recorded. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and analyzed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The patients were followed up for at least one year for new episodes, existence of wheezing, frequency of pulmonary infections, and progression of asthma.
Results:
In half of the patients, determinants were indicated through the PCR method, with the most frequent being respiratory syncytial virus (44%). The frequency of bronchiolitis was higher in prematures (p<0.005). There was a relationship between crowded family structure and the existence of wheezing (p=0.003), increased recurrence (p=0.014), and need for inhaler treatment (p=0.014). The frequency was higher in patients living in urban cities (p<0.001), in houses with heating stoves (p=0.001), and in houses with smokers (p=0.001). Patients living in houses with heating stoves had more severe episodes (p=0.018). Recurrent wheezing and the need for regular inhaler usage were positively correlated with high API scores (p=0.008 and p=0.002, respectively).
Conclusion:
Prematurity, exposure to smoking, living in a crowded house with heating stoves, and an urban life are the risk factors for frequent bronchiolitis. The API can be used to predict the recurrence of bronchiolitis.
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