Clinical Predictors of Hospital Admission in Children Aged 0-24 Months with Acute Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a significant cause of acute morbidity in children less than 2 years old and some children with bronchiolitis are admitted to the hospital. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To identify clinical predictors of hospital admission in children aged 024 months with acute bronchiolitis.   METHODS: All children in the age group of 024 months presenting with acute bronchiolitis to a dedicated pediatric emergency department of GB pant cantonment children hospital, Govt Medical College Srinagar,   from April 2012March 2013 were included in the study, provided they met the inclusion criteria. Nonparametric numerical variables were analyzed using Mann Whitney u test. Chi square was used to analyzecategorical variables, p value 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 763(552(72.3%) male, mean age 8.52+/ 3.59 months) children (024months) presented with acute bronchiolitis during the study period. 435(313 (72%) male, mean age 6.69+/3.8 months)patients were admitted to the hospital. The eight best predictors of admission (age, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, fever, grunt, dehydration and duration of symptoms) were determined. CONCLUSION:This study has identified clinical predictors of admission in children aged 024 months with acute bronchiolitis. This information can be used as a guide in deciding whether to admit a child with bronchiolitis.