Prevalence of Severe Acute Bronchiolitis in Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children's Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is a common respiratory illness in infants and young children with variable clinical severity, sometimes leading to serious complications or death. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of severe acute bronchiolitis in children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months at Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital, involving 511 children aged ≤ 2 years with their first episode of bronchiolitis. Cases were categorized into mild, moderate, or severe. Results: Out of the 511 cases, 109 (21.3%) as severe bronchiolitis. The majority were infants aged 1-6 months, with a slight male predominance. Most patients resided in rural areas, and overcrowded households were common. Significant associations (P-value < 0.05) were found between disease severity and factors such as young age, cesarean delivery, lower parental education, overcrowding, use of oil-based heating, and lack of maternal supplementation during pregnancy. Bottle feeding was the most prevalent type, but feeding method and parental smoking showed no significant association (P-value > 0.05) with disease severity. Pneumonia was the most frequent complication (22.5%), followed by apnea (8.8%), and respiratory care unit admission (11.7%). The observed mortality rate 3.1%. Conclusion: Acute bronchiolitis remains a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Early identification of risk factors and improved supportive care are essential, especially in resource-limited settings.