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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
[Clinical features of children with influenza and plastic bronchitis: an analysis of 63 cases]
Feng Wei1, Fei-Qiu Wen, Wei-Guo Yang
1Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China; Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518026, China. fwen62@126.com.
Insights
Influenza complicated by plastic bronchitis (PB) predominantly affects young boys. Consider PB in children with influenza and shortness of breath, even without typical X-ray or auscultation findings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a rare but serious condition characterized by the formation of proteinaceous casts in the bronchial tree.
- Influenza virus infections can trigger or exacerbate PB, particularly in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients diagnosed with influenza and concurrent plastic bronchitis.
- To identify key clinical, laboratory, and imaging features associated with influenza-induced PB in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of medical records for 63 children with influenza and PB was conducted.
- Data collected included clinical presentations, laboratory results, imaging findings, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- The cohort comprised 52 boys (83%) and 11 girls (17%), with a median age of 3-6 years (60%).
- Common symptoms included high fever (90%), cough (95%), and shortness of breath (73%).
- Twenty-four children (38%) had atelectasis on imaging, and 16 (25%) had no rales on auscultation; 41 required ICU admission and 32 needed mechanical ventilation.
Conclusions:
- Influenza-associated PB is more prevalent in preschool-aged boys.
- Shortness of breath in children with influenza warrants consideration for PB, irrespective of chest X-ray or auscultation findings.
Objective:
To study the clinical features of children with influenza and plastic bronchitis (PB).
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 63 children with influenza and PB, including clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results, imaging findings, treatment, and outcome.
Results:
Among the 63 children, there were 52 boys (83%) and 11 girls (17%), and 42 children had influenza A and 21 had influenza B. Among these children, 38 (60%) aged 3-6 years, and 15 (24%) had underlying diseases. The main clinical manifestations were high fever (90%), cough (95%), and shortness of breath (73%). Twenty-four children (38%) were found to have atelectasis by imaging examination. Auscultation showed that 16 children (25%) had no rales in the lungs. Of all children, 41 were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 32 required mechanical ventilation. All children underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and alveolar lavage. Among the 63 children, 60 recovered and 3 died.
Conclusions:
Influenza with PB is often observed in boys and preschool children. For influenza children with shortness of breath, even if there is no atelectasis on chest X-ray or no rales are found by auscultation, the possibility of PB still needs to be considered.
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