Diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis in F innish and S wedish children's hospitals

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 103; no. 9; pp. 946 - 950
• Main Authors: Mecklin, Minna, Hesselmar, Bill, Qvist, Erik, Wennergren, Göran, Korppi, Matti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-09-2014
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12671

Abstract
Aim
There is no widely accepted consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis. This study describes current practices in
F
innish and
S
wedish hospitals.
Methods
A questionnaire on the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis in children below 2 years of age was sent to all
F
innish and
S
wedish hospitals providing inpatient care for children. All 22
F
innish hospitals answered, covering 100% of the <12‐month‐old population and 21 of the 37
S
wedish hospitals responded, covering 74%.
Results
The mean upper age limit for bronchiolitis was 12.7 months in
F
innish hospitals and 12.5 months in
S
wedish hospitals. In both, laboured breathing, chest retractions and fine crackles were highlighted as the main clinical findings, followed by prolonged expiration. The mean value for the lowest acceptable saturation in room air was 94% in
F
innish hospitals and 93% in
S
wedish hospitals. The most important factors influencing hospitalisation were young age, desaturation and inability to take oral fluids.
F
innish doctors preferred intravenous routes, and
S
wedish doctors preferred nasogastric tubes for supplementary feeding. The first‐line drug therapy was inhaled racemic adrenaline in
F
inland and inhaled levo‐adrenaline in
S
weden.
Conclusion
The diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis is fairly similar in
F
innish and
S
wedish hospitals.