title: Severe bronchiolitis in children.
abstract: Acute viral bronchiolitis is one of the most common causes of paediatric respiratory disease, especially in the first year of life. Young infants and those with pre-existent cardiorespiratory problems are at an increased risk of acute respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. A prospective study was carried out from November 1988 to October 1989, to analyse the clinical features, aetiology and outcome of patients with severe bronchiolitis. 52 (29.9%) out of 174 cases of acute bronchiolitis admitted were found to be severe. A virus aetiology was identified in 75% of the cases, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being the commonest agent. 88.5% of the patients were less than 1 year of age, with a male preponderance of 1.4:1. There was a higher incidence in the Malay ethic group. Despite the viral aetiology, 88.2% were treated with a course of antibiotics. There was one death, and 2 patients had apnea requiring mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Chay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiew
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors