ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS IN CHILDREN: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Abstract

Acute bronchiolitis is a diffuse inflammatory lesion of the terminal parts of the respiratory tract, characterized by bronchial obstruction and respiratory failure. In most cases, the disease develops in children during the first two to three years of life against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection; the peak incidence occurs at the age of 5–7 months. Each year, 3–4% of young children suffer from acute bronchiolitis, of whom 0.5–2% develop severe forms; mortality is reported in approximately 1% of cases. Severe courses of acute bronchiolitis are observed in children with an unfavorable background, including premature infants and those with congenital lung anomalies and congenital heart defects. The wide prevalence of this pathology and the high rate of hospitalization make the problem of acute bronchiolitis extremely relevant for practical pediatrics and pulmonology.