CLINICORADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN A COHORT OF CHILDREN WITH WHEEZING: DATA FROM A RURAL MEDICAL CENTRE

SAMBHAV YADAV; GAURI CHAUHAN; S.P GUPTA; ANAND KUMAR BHARDWAJ; AARTI SAREEN

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2018

CLINICORADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN A COHORT OF CHILDREN WITH WHEEZING: DATA FROM A RURAL MEDICAL CENTRE

Sambhav Yadav, Gauri Chauhan, S. P Gupta, Anand Kumar Bhardwaj, Aarti Sareen

Abstract :

Background: Wheezing in infants and children is a common clinical finding. However, it may be due to varying aetiologies and hence requires detailed clinical and radiological correlation to arrive at a correct diagnosis. The present study was done prospectively to note the various clinical presenting features and findings along with radiograph abnormalities in children with wheeze as a primary symptom. Methods : A total of 100 pediatric patients with wheeze as main symptom and under the age of 18 years were enrolled. All the patients were thoroughly examined and X–ray done were evaluated. Results: Out of 100 patients, majority were less than 5 years of age group (63%). Of the total, 69% were males and 31% females. Socioeconomic status revealed 71%l lying below poverty line and rest above poverty line. Amongst the various diagnosis the most common were LRTI (35%) and Bronchial Asthma (32%). The various demographic parameters, clinical features and X–ray were studied and correlated. Correlating with LRTI, majority were less than 5 years of age (45.3%), more were males (36.2%) and mostly above poverty line (48.3%). The clinical findings pertaining to respiratory illness were found more in Bronchial Asthma than in LRTI like eathing difficulty and cough, 47.4 & 41.7% to 42.1 & 37.5% respectively. The significant radiograph findings in both these conditions were Hyperinflation (82.6%)in Bronchial asthma and pneumonitis (53.7%) in LRTI. The parameters were also studied for the other less diagnosis but not majorly highlighted in our study. Conclusion: Study highlights that wheeze is most commonly seen in less than 5 years age group and in addition to onchial asthma, lower respiratory tract infections are the most common underlying aetiology in these cases. In addition, eathing difficulty and cough were found to be the main indicators of both the conditions and these could be substantiated by findings on a plain radiograph.