Etiology and outcome of bronchiectasis in children: a study of 41 patients

Bronchiectasis remains an important cause of chronic suppurative lung disease in the developing world. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, underlying aetiologies and outcome of bronchiectasis in the paediatric hospital of Tunis. A retrospectiv...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Tunisie Medicale Vol. 86; no. 11; p. 996
Main Authors:	Bouyahia, Olfa, Essadem, Leila, Matoussi, Nadia, Gharsallah, Lamia, Fitouri, Zohra, Mrad Mazigh, Sonia, Boukthir, Samir, Bellagah, I, Ben Becher, Saida, Sammoud El Gharbi, Azza
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Tunisia 01-11-2008
Subjects:	Adolescent Bronchiectasis - complications Bronchiectasis - diagnosis Bronchiectasis - diagnostic imaging Bronchiectasis - epidemiology Bronchiectasis - etiology Child Child, Preschool Cough - etiology Cystic Fibrosis - complications Dyspnea - etiology Hemoptysis - etiology Hospitals, Pediatric Humans Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes - complications Incidence Infant Kartagener Syndrome - complications Prognosis Radiography Retrospective Studies Risk Factors Sputum - secretion Thorax - abnormalities Tunisia - epidemiology
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Bronchiectasis remains an important cause of chronic suppurative lung disease in the developing world. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, underlying aetiologies and outcome of bronchiectasis in the paediatric hospital of Tunis. A retrospective study of 41 children with bronchiectasis was conducted between January 1994 and December 2006. Diagnosis was made in patients with clinical suspicion of bronchiectasis associated with abnormalities on chest X ray (n=37) and/or on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) (n=36). Mean age at diagnosis was 5 years 9 months; (range: 6 months-14 years). Persistent cough and bronchorrhea were the most common symptoms. Fourteen patients (34%) had dyspnoea on first presentation, 11 of them (26.8%) had chest deformation and/or finger clubbing. Haemoptysis was noted in only two cases. Mean time to diagnosis from symptom onset was 2.7 years (range: 2 months-4 years). The underlying aetiologies were identified in 52% of patients. Cystic fibrosis (17%), previous pneumonic illness (9.7%), primary ciliary dyskinesia (9.7%) and immunodeficiency (9.7%) were the most common causes. After a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, the annual lower respiratory infection rate decreased from 7.2 +/- 3 to 3.1 +/- 2.6 (p<0.05), Twenty one point nine per cent of patients had chronic respiratory failure and five patients required surgery. Delays diagnosis of bronchiectasis remains important in our country. Congenital and indeterminate aetiologies are the most common forms. Prognosis is poor with a high prevalence of chronic respiratory failure.
ISSN:	0041-4131