Clinical Profile and Outcome of Bronchiolitis in Children With 1-24 Months of Age.

Introduction Bronchiolitis poses a significant challenge in pediatric critical care. It is an acute illness affecting the lower respiratory tract in children under the age of two. The most common cause of bronchiolitis is the seasonal respiratory syncytial virus, with influenza and adenovirus also notable contributors. It is characterized by various clinical symptoms and indicators, such as an upper respiratory prodrome, increased respiratory effort, and wheezing in younger children under two years old. This study primarily examines the clinical profile, risk factors, severity, and outcomes of bronchiolitis in children under two years, excluding the neonatal age group.  Materials and methods Children under two years of age who presented with upper respiratory symptoms and their first episode of wheezing were evaluated. Those with pre-existing systemic conditions such as cardiac, respiratory, or immunodeficiency disorders were excluded. A detailed history was gathered using a questionnaire, and risk factors were analyzed. The severity of the condition was measured using the Wood-Downes-Ferres score. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The relationship between risk factors, severity, and outcomes was examined using the chi-squared test. A two-sided probability of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests. Results Among 54 children aged 1-24 months with bronchiolitis, the average age was 10.18 months, with a standard deviation of 4.8 months. The severity of the condition was greater in younger children (1-12 months) and tended to decrease with age. Bronchiolitis was more common in males (33 cases) than females (21 cases). Approximately 50 children (92.6%) exhibited signs of respiratory distress, and 45 children (83.3%) showed cough as an initial symptom. Severity was notably higher in children with a history of irritability, which was statistically significant (chi-squared value: 8.169; p-value: 0.017). Only 16 children (29.65%) had a history of poor feeding. Bronchiolitis was more prevalent among infants with a birth weight under 1500 grams (63%). Non-exclusive breastfeeding and early bottle feeding were significant risk factors for bronchiolitis and its severity (chi-squared values: 18.794; p-value: 0.000 and 7.795; p-value: 0.020, respectively). Only two children (3.7%) had been exposed to passive smoke, and the severity was slightly higher in these cases. There was also a statistically significant association between socioeconomic status and bronchiolitis (chi-squared value: 11.917; p-value: 0.018). Conclusion This study aims to raise awareness among parents and clinicians about the high-risk age group for bronchiolitis, its typical presentations, and predictors of severity. It underscores the impact of both biological and environmental risk factors, such as bottle feeding, non-exclusive breastfeeding, and socioeconomic status, on the severity of the condition.