CLINICAL PROFILE AND OUTCOME OF ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS IN CHILDREN BELOW TWO YEARS OF AGE: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is one of the most common lower respiratory tract infections among infants and young 
children. It is an important cause of pediatric emergency visits and hospital admissions, particularly during seasonal viral 
outbreaks. The disease is usually self-limiting but may become severe in young infants and children with underlying risk 
factors.
Aim: To evaluate the clinical profile, associated risk factors, severity pattern, management requirement, and outcome of 
acute bronchiolitis in children below two years of age.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics during 2019 among 130 
children aged two years or less diagnosed clinically with acute bronchiolitis. Children presenting with the first episode of 
wheezing associated with features of viral lower respiratory tract infection were included. Children with bronchial asthma, 
congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, foreign body aspiration, and severe neurological disorders were excluded.