ABSTRACT
Background: Bronchiolitis of infancy is a clinically diagnosed respiratory condition presenting with breathing difficulties, cough, poor feeding, and irritability and, in the very young, apnea. Objective: To determine the effect of cesarean section and UTI on bronchiolitis in children aged 2 months to 2 years. Design: Retrospective population-based data linkage cohort study of 202 cases in Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) and Makassed University Hospital (MUH). Methods: We reviewed retrospectively and studied prospectively the charts of the bronchiolitis hospitalized children between one month and two years in RHUH and MUH between 2011 and 2012 and continued prospectively until 2013. We studied: age, date of admission, type of delivery, gestational age, presence of UTI, screening and investigations done, related congenital diseases. The UTI is considered only when urine culture is positive. The type of delivery also mentioned. Results: Our study showed that 48% of bronchiolitis patients were born by cesarean section delivery compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery, these children had increased risk of admissions for bronchiolitis with (OR 2.71; CI 95%) and 10.16% of all patients had UTI. Conclusion: Physicians and expectant parents need to be made aware of this additional risk of elective cesarean sections and associated infant morbidity to aid in deciding the most appropriate mode of delivery. In infants and children with bronchiolitis continue to have a clinically important rate of UTIs.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Allergic rhinitis and asthma frequently coexist but has rarely been evaluated in Lebanese children. Aim: This prospective study aimed to estimate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in asthmatic children in Lebanon, and to ascertain whether allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for the severity of asthma. Patients and Methods: Parents of 124 children aged 1-13 years admitted to the pediatric floor of the Makassed General Hospital between July 2008 and March 2009 and diagnosed as having asthma; parents were interviewed and followed up with a questionnaire concerning allergic rhinitis symptoms and signs with para-clinical data if available. The questionnaire was based on a study done in France by Hammouda et al. (2005). This was modified from an adult score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR). Results: This well recognized score defines the association of allergic rhinitis and asthma in children. A score of ³ 9 out of 17 total score corresponds to the presence of allergic rhinitis in asthmatic children. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was recognized in 67 patients out of 124 (54%). This prevalence was evident mainly in the age group 3-5 years. Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is prevalent in children of the Lebanese population, the severity of asthma was found to be clearly associated with allergic rhinitis. The SFAR modified for children was found to be a simple and reliable tool to detect allergic rhinitis in asthmatic children.