Clinical Manifestations, Management, and Natural Course of Infants with Recurrent Bronchiolitis or Reactive Airways Disease

Hyoun Jin Park; Joo Hyun Kim; Yoon Hong Chun; Soo Young Lee; Sang Yong Kim; Jin Han Kang

doi:10.14776/kjpid.2014.21.1.37

Journal List > Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis > v.21(1) > 1096029

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Park, Kim, Chun, Lee, Kim, and Kang: Clinical Manifestations, Management, and Natural Course of Infants with Recurrent Bronchiolitis or Reactive Airways Disease

Original Article

Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases 2014; 21(1): 37-42.

Published online: 23 April 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.2014.21.1.37

Clinical Manifestations, Management, and Natural Course of Infants with Recurrent Bronchiolitis or Reactive Airways Disease

Hyoun Jin Park, M.D., Joo Hyun Kim, M.D., Yoon Hong Chun, M.D., Soo Young Lee, M.D., Sang Yong Kim, M.D., Jin Han Kang, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (sylee@catholic.ac.kr)

Received 22 September 2013 Revised 16 December 2013 Accepted 17 December 2013

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and 5-year natural course of recurrent bronchiolitis or reactive airways disease (RAD) in infants.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of infants with recurrent bronchiolitis from January 2007 to December 2007 at The Catholic University of Korea St. Mary's Hospital in Incheon, South Korea. Additionally, we telephoned their parents to confirm their present medical statuses.

Results

Sixty-three subjects with recurrent bronchiolitis were identified. The mean age at admission was 8.1 months and the number of males was 44 (69.8%). Of the 63 infants with recurrent bronchiolitis, inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and antibiotics were given to 62 (98.4%), 53 (84.1%), and 40 (63.5%), respectively. Among the total 63 subjects, we were able to contact the parents of 45 children by telephone. None of these children had been hospitalized during the previous one year period due to respiratory infections or for other medical reasons. Of the 45 subjects we were able to contact, 38 (84.4%) had not experienced any further respiratory difficulties at all. Five (11.1%) had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis while two (4.4%) were being managed for asthma.

Conclusion

Most children who presented with recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis in infancy did not show any further respiratory difficulties after five years of age.

Keywords: Bronchiolitis, Infant, Follow-Up Studies

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Five-year follow-up (natural course) of recurrent bronchiolitis or reactive airways disease (RAD) in infants was described. Most children (84.4%) who presented with recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis in infancy did not show any further respiratory difficulties after five years of age.

Table 1

Clinical Manifestations of Infants with Recurrent Bronchiolitis

^*defined as attendance at day care center and/or number of family members ≥5.

^†≥5.0 mg/dL.

Abbreviations: WBC, white blood cell; CRP, C-reactive protein.

Table 2

Comparison of the Inpatient Management of Acute Bronchiolitis by Country

^*not available.

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