Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2014 Apr;21(1):37-42.

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

• Park HJ
• Kim JH
• Chun YH
• Lee SY
• Kim SY
• Kang JH

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.

Keyword

Bronchiolitis; Infant; Follow-Up Studies

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Asthma
Bronchiolitis*
Bronchodilator Agents
Child
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incheon
Infant*
Korea
Male
Medical Records
Parents
Respiratory Tract Infections
Rhinitis
Telephone
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bronchodilator Agents

Figure

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  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.

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