Clinical features and treatment of protracted bacterial bronchitis in children / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children. Methods Children with PBB conifrmed by bronchoscopy were recruited from May 2013 to April 2015 . The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results All 31 cases include 18 boys and 13 girls were recruited. 28/31 were younger than 6 years old. They all complained of wet cough, some of them were reported with wheeze ( 17/31 ) and with ruttle in the lungs ( 16/31 ). White blood cell were in normal range ( 18/31 ) or slightly elevated ( 13/31 ). The C-reactin protein was in normal range ( 28/31 ). Chest X-ray test of 16 cases were normal. Twenty-four cases taken chest computerized tomograph scan, 5 had a sign of tracheobronchial stenosis. The purulent bronchitis without tracheobronchial stenosis were conifrmed by bronchoscopy. Four cases had tracheomalacia. The medians of proportion of neutrophil were 80% in bronchoalveolar lavage lfuid (BALF). The pathogens were identiifed in BALF in 17 cases, 6 with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 6 with Haemophilus parainfluenzae, 3 with Moraxella catarrhalis, 2 with Staphylococcus aureus and 1 with Haemophilus influenzae. The symptoms were improved in all cases and co-amoxiclav was prescribed to most cases when discharged. The course of antibiotics therapy was 2-4 weeks in 23 cases, and more than 4 weeks in 8 cases. Twenty-three ( 23 ) cases were cured but 8 of them relapsed. Another 8 cases were improved but not completely remitted, 7/8 were cured by further treatment for concomitant diseases such as nasosinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Conclusions Children with PBB are typically younger than six years old, and presented with prolonged wet cough and parent-reported wheeze, normal or with ruttle in the lungs. A conifrmed diagnosis was reached by bronchoscopy. The antibiotics therapy were effective, the course should be more than 2-4 weeks, however, relapse were common. When antibiotics therapy does not lead to complete remission, concomitant diseases should be considered.