Characteristics of severe adenovirus pneumonia complicated with plastic bronchitis in children / 中国小儿急救医学

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and investigate risk factors associated with the development of plastic bronchitis(PB)in pediatric patients who have severe pneumonia caused by adenovirus(HAdVs)infections.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, radiological examinations, and treatment courses of 258 children who were diagnosed as HAdVs associated severe pneumonia between 1st January, 2015 and 31st October, 2019 at Shenzhen Children′s Hospital.According to the presence of PB, patients were divided into PB group( n=45)and non-PB group( n=213). Results:In PB group, the male to female ratio was 1.65∶1(including 28 boys and 17 girls)and the median age was 41.0(18.5, 65.5)months.Patients younger than 6 years of age accounted for 80.0%(36/45)and older patients accounted for 20.0%(9/45). The major clinical symptoms of patients in PB group were high fever(95.6%, 43/45), cough(100.0%, 45/45)and conjunctivitis(33.3%, 15/45). Physical examinations revealed that most patients had tachypnea(80.0%, 36/45)and crackles(80.0%, 36/45). Compared to patients in non-PB group, the duration of fever in PB group was significant longer( Z=-13.519, P<0.001). Compared to non-PB group, there was a significant decrease of the lymphocyte count[2.24(1.44, 3.84)×10 9/L vs.1.75(1.21, 3.03)×10 9/L] and a significantly increase of the procalcitonin level[0.46(0.19, 1.73)ng/mL vs.1.54(0.37, 2.96)ng/mL] in PB group( P<0.05). Chest radiological examinations revealed that patients in PB group had higher rates to develop pleural effusion(62.2% vs.42.3%) and atelectasis(57.8% vs.22.1%) of the lungs compared to non-PB group( P<0.05). The majority of patients improved after resolution of symptoms(97.8%, 44/45) in PB group.Only one patient(2.2%, 1/45) died due to discontinuation of treatment.Conjunctivitis( P<0.001, OR=108.514, 95% CI 17.476-673.791), tachypnea( P<0.001, OR=18.788, 95% CI 5.172-68.246), pleural effusion( P=0.007, OR=3.363, 95% CI 1.389-8.139) were independent risk factors associated with the development of PB in children with HAdVs associated severe pneumonia. Conclusion:Pre-school age children are at higher risk to develop HAdVs related severe pneumonia that complicated with PB.Fever and cough remain the main clinical symptoms.The presence of PB is associated with longer period of fever and higher risks to have pleural effusion and atelectasis.Conjunctivitis, tachypnea orpleural effusion are higher risk to develop PB in those with HAdVs associated severe pneumonia.