Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study involving all patients diagnosed with bronchiolitis up to two years of age, admitted in Al-Sadaka Teaching Hospital in Aden governorate, from 1st January– 31th December 2014. The purpose of this study was to describe the status and characteristics of admitted children with bronchiolitis. Of the 77 patients, there were 74.0% males and 26.0% females, giving a ratio of 2.85:1. The age ranged from 2 - 18 months, with a mean age of (5.4± 3.5) months. The majority of patients were under six months of age (80.5%). A seasonal variation of bronchiolitis was found with a peak incidence in winter, especially in October. We found that 64.9% of the children were exposed to smokers. The most common clinical symptoms were dyspnea, cough and fever (100%, 87.0%, 75.3% respectively). Clinical signs were fine wheezing and rhonchi (68.8%, 55.8% respectively). The median of respiratory rate was 65 breaths/minute. Treatment with antibiotics was given to all patients (100.0%), supplement of oxygen, bronchodilators and corticosteroids (92.2%, 87%, 84.4% respectively). Most of the patients discharged well (83.1%) and with no deaths. The mean duration of inpatient stay was 5.4±3.5 days ranging from 1 - 24 days. Nine per cent of patients were repeatedly admitted with recurrent bronchiolitis after discharge. We concluded that children of less than six months of age and those who have been exposed to smokers after birth have the highest risk of bronchiolitis. There was inappropriate use of antibiotics which can be prevented by the presence of unified guidelines. The results may lead to the desired improvement of health care for children.