SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, CLINICAL PROFILE OF ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS IN CHILDREN OF 1MONTH TO 24 MONTHS ADMITTED IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE
Abstract
Background: Acute bronchiolitis is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection and hospitalization in infants, particularly during early infancy. It remains a significant contributor to pediatric morbidity, especially in developing countries.
Objectives: To evaluate the sociodemographic profile, clinical characteristics, severity, and short-term outcomes of children admitted with acute bronchiolitis, and to identify factors associated with disease severity.
Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted over 15 months (March 2023 to May 2024) in a tertiary care center. A total of 97 children aged 1–24 months diagnosed with bronchiolitis based on standard clinical criteria were included. Data on demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings, risk factors, and outcomes were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Categorical variables were expressed as proportions, and continuous variables as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean age was 5.4 ± 3.4 months, with peak incidence at 4 months (19.58%). Males constituted 56.7% of cases. The majority of children belonged to lower middle (45.36%) and upper lower (36.08%) socioeconomic classes. Cough was present in all cases, followed by fever (61.8%) and respiratory distress (51.5%). Hypoxia (SpO₂ <95%) was observed in 29.7% of children. Laboratory findings revealed lymphocyte predominance (72.7%) and leukocytosis (56.7%). Most cases were mild (69%), while 18.6% were classified as severe. Significant predictors of severity included low socioeconomic status (p = 0.002), low birth weight (p = 0.023), and anemia (p = 0.029). No mortality was observed.
Conclusion: Acute bronchiolitis predominantly affects young infants and is strongly influenced by socioeconomic and nutritional factors. Early identification of high-risk children and targeted interventions can help reduce disease severity and improve clinical outcomes.
Keywords:
Acute bronchiolitis, infants, respiratory infection, hypoxia, socioeconomic status, anemia, low birth weight, severity, outcomesDOI
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