Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis in Young Children: Association with Airway Malacia

摘要: Objective To examine associated findings and clinical outcome in young children with prolonged cough, wheeze, and/or noisy breathing whom high colony counts of potentially pathogenic bacteria were cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) during diagnostic flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Study design This was a retrospective review all medical records infancy to 60 months age seen our specialty clinic 1999 2009 protracted BAL found ≥10 4 forming units per milliliter bacteria. Children other major diagnoses excluded. Results With quantitative culture BAL, Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenza or Moraxella catarrhalis separately combination, 70 children. Neutrophilia present 87% BALs. Tracheomalacia, bronchomalacia, both 52 (74%). Symptoms eliminated antibiotics 61 follow-up data. Relapse subsequent successful re-treatment occurred 43 Conclusions High neutrophilia the identifies bacterial bronchitis. The predominance airway malacia these patients suggests an etiologic role for those anomalies. potential chronic damage bronchitis warrants further investigation.