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Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) Feb 2023Lung ultrasound (LUS) has not been included in the current guidelines for the diagnosis of bronchiolitis so far, even though data concerning its effectiveness have been... (Review)
Review
AIM
Lung ultrasound (LUS) has not been included in the current guidelines for the diagnosis of bronchiolitis so far, even though data concerning its effectiveness have been published.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was carried out to determine the role of LUS scores in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients aged 0-2 years with bronchiolitis, using MEDLINE, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases from their inception to December 2021.
RESULTS
A total of 18 studies matching our eligibility criteria were analysed for the purposes of this review and 1249 patients with bronchiolitis were included. The sonographic and radiological findings were comparable and chest radiography was found to have a higher sensitivity in ruling out severe complications such as concomitant pneumonia. The LUS scores were correlated to the clinical course of bronchiolitis and it was able to predict the need of admission in paediatric intensive care unit, the duration of hospitalisation and the need for respiratory support.
CONCLUSION
This review suggests that LUS could have both a diagnostic and a prognostic role in bronchiolitis during first evaluation in the emergency department and hospitalisation. Physicians could adjust management according to sonographic findings as a useful adjunct to the clinical ones.
Topics: Humans; Bronchiolitis; Bronchiolitis, Viral; Lung; Pneumonia; Prognosis; Ultrasonography; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 36261915
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16578 -
Pediatric Research May 2024The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyse the efficacy of azithromycin in acute bronchiolitis and wheezing. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyse the efficacy of azithromycin in acute bronchiolitis and wheezing.
METHODS
PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing azithromycin to placebo in children <2 years of age. Main outcomes were progress of acute wheezing episode and recurrence of wheezing. We used random-effects model to calculate mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) or risk ratios (RR) with CI.
RESULTS
We screened 1604 abstracts and included 7 studies. Risk of bias was low in three and had some concerns in four studies. Need for intensive care unit treatment was assessed in four studies (446 children) and the risk difference was 0.0% (CI -2.0 to 2.0; low quality evidence). Hospitalization duration was -0.27 days shorter in the azithromycin group (MD-0.27, CI -0.47 to -0.07; three studies; moderate quality evidence). Azithromycin did not prevent recurrence of wheezing (RR 0.84, CI 0.45-1.56; three studies), hospital readmissions (RR 1.14, CI 0.82-1.60; four studies).
CONCLUSIONS
We found moderate quality evidence that azithromycin may reduce hospitalization duration. Low certainty evidence suggests that azithromycin does not reduce the need for intensive care unit treatment. Furthermore, azithromycin did not prevent wheezing recurrence.
IMPACT
Azithromycin may reduce hospitalization time in acute bronchiolitis and wheezing episodes among children aged less than two. Azithromycin administrated during the acute wheezing period, does not have preventive effect on wheezing recurrence. Azithromycin seemed to have similar adverse event profile than placebo. Future studies with clinically relevant outcomes, and sufficient sample sizes are needed, before implementing azithromycin into clinical use.
Topics: Humans; Azithromycin; Bronchiolitis; Respiratory Sounds; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Infant; Acute Disease; Treatment Outcome; Hospitalization; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Length of Stay
PubMed: 38066246
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02953-z -
International Journal of Medical... Aug 2023Acute respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Cough is a common symptom of acute respiratory diseases and the sound of cough can... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Acute respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Cough is a common symptom of acute respiratory diseases and the sound of cough can be indicative of the respiratory disease. However, cough sound assessment in routine clinical practice is limited to human perception and the skills of the clinician. Objective cough sound evaluation has the potential to aid clinicians in acute respiratory disease diagnosis. In this systematic review, we assess and summarize the predictive ability of machine learning algorithms in analyzing cough sounds of acute respiratory diseases in the pediatric population.
METHOD
Our systematic search of the Scopus, Medline, and Embase databases on 25 January 2023 identified six articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the checklist for the assessment of medical artificial intelligence.
RESULTS
Our analysis shows variability in the input to the machine learning algorithms, such as the use of various cough sound features and combining cough sound features with clinical features. The use of the machine learning algorithms also varies from conventional algorithms, such as logistic regression and support vector machine, to deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks. The classification accuracy for the detection of bronchiolitis, croup, pertussis, and pneumonia across five articles is in the range of 82-96%. However, a significant drop is observed in the detection accuracy for bronchiolitis and pneumonia in the remaining article.
CONCLUSION
The number of articles is limited but, in general, the predictive ability of cough sound classification algorithms in childhood acute respiratory diseases shows promise.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cough; Artificial Intelligence; Algorithms; Pneumonia; Bronchiolitis; Machine Learning
PubMed: 37224643
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105093 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Nov 2015Acute bronchiolitis is the commonest cause of hospitalisation in infancy. Currently management consists of supportive care and oxygen. A Cochrane review concluded that,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Acute bronchiolitis is the commonest cause of hospitalisation in infancy. Currently management consists of supportive care and oxygen. A Cochrane review concluded that, "nebulised 3 % saline may significantly reduce the length of hospital stay". We conducted a systematic review of controlled trials of nebulised hypertonic saline (HS) for infants hospitalised with primary acute bronchiolitis.
METHODS
Searches to January 2015 involved: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Ovid MEDLINE; Embase; Google Scholar; Web of Science; and, a variety of trials registers. We hand searched Chest, Paediatrics and Journal of Paediatrics on 14 January 2015. Reference lists of eligible trial publications were checked. Randomised or quasi-randomised trials which compared HS versus either normal saline (+/- adjunct treatment) or no treatment were included. Eligible studies involved children less than 2 years old hospitalised due to the first episode of acute bronchiolitis. Two reviewers extracted data to calculate mean differences (MD) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs) for length of hospital stay (LoS-primary outcome), Clinical Severity Score (CSS) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs). Meta-analysis was undertaken using a fixed effect model, supplemented with additional sensitivity analyses. We investigated statistical heterogeneity using I(2). Risk of bias, within and between studies, was assessed using the Cochrane tool, an outcome reporting bias checklist and a funnel plot.
RESULTS
Fifteen trials were included in the systematic review (n = 1922), HS reduced mean LoS by 0.36, (95 % CI 0.50 to 0.22) days, but with considerable heterogeneity (I(2) = 78 %) and sensitivity to alternative analysis methods. A reduction in CSS was observed where assessed [n = 516; MD -1.36, CI -1.52, -1.20]. One trial reported one possible intervention related SAE, no other studies described intervention related SAEs.
CONCLUSIONS
There is disparity between the overall combined effect on LoS as compared with the negative results from the largest and most precise trials. Together with high levels of heterogeneity, this means that neither individual trials nor pooled estimates provide a firm evidence-base for routine use of HS in inpatient acute bronchiolitis.
Topics: Acute Disease; Bronchiolitis; Humans; Infant; Length of Stay; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Saline Solution, Hypertonic
PubMed: 26597174
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-015-0140-x -
International Reviews of Immunology 2021Acute bronchiolitis caused by the respiratory syncytial virus triggers an inflammatory response with the production and release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Acute bronchiolitis caused by the respiratory syncytial virus triggers an inflammatory response with the production and release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. Evidence suggests that their levels are associated with the severity of the infection. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess whether the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ are associated with the severity of acute viral bronchiolitis. We searched MEDLINE libraries (via PUBMED), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, and the gray literature through April 2020. Random effect models were used for general and subgroup analysis. In total, six studies were included with a total of 744 participants. The mean TNF-α levels between the severe group did not differ from the control group 0.14 (95% CI: -0.53 to 0.82, I = 91%, < 0.01); the heterogeneity was high. The results remained insignificant when the analyses were performed including only studies with high quality 0.25 (95% CI: -0.46 to 0.96, I = 92%, < 0.01) I = 95%, = 0.815), when TNF-α was nasal 0.60 (95% CI: -0.49 to 1.69), I = 94%, < 0.01), or serum -0.08 (95% CI: -0.48 to 0.31), I = 29%, = 0.24). In the analysis of studies measuring IFN-γ, there was also no significance of -0.67 (95% CI: -1.56 to 0.22, I = 76%, = 0.04). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the most severe patients do not have different mean TNF-α and IFN-γ values than patients with mild disease, but the heterogeneity of the studies was high. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08830185.2021.1889534.
Topics: Bronchiolitis; Bronchiolitis, Viral; Cytokines; Humans; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 33616469
DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2021.1889534 -
Pediatrics Oct 2015The mainstay of treatment for acute bronchiolitis remains supportive care. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nebulized hypertonic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The mainstay of treatment for acute bronchiolitis remains supportive care. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) in infants with acute bronchiolitis.
METHODS
Data sources included PubMed and the Virtual Health Library of the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information up to May 2015. Studies selected were randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing nebulized HS with 0.9% saline or standard treatment.
RESULTS
We included 24 trials involving 3209 patients, 1706 of whom received HS. Hospitalized patients treated with nebulized HS had a significantly shorter length of stay compared with those receiving 0.9% saline or standard care (15 trials involving 1956 patients; mean difference [MD] -0.45 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.82 to -0.08). The HS group also had a significantly lower posttreatment clinical score in the first 3 days of admission (5 trials involving 404 inpatients; day 1: MD -0.99, 95% CI -1.48 to -0.50; day 2: MD -1.45, 95% CI -2.06 to -0.85; day 3: MD -1.44, 95% CI -1.78 to -1.11). Nebulized HS reduced the risk of hospitalization by 20% compared with 0.9% saline among outpatients (7 trials involving 951 patients; risk ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.67-0.96). No significant adverse events related to HS inhalation were reported. The quality of evidence is moderate due to inconsistency in results between trials and study limitations (risk of bias).
CONCLUSIONS
Nebulized HS is a safe and potentially effective treatment of infants with acute bronchiolitis.
Topics: Acute Disease; Bronchiolitis; Humans; Infant; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Saline Solution, Hypertonic
PubMed: 26416925
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-1914 -
Journal of Global Health Jun 2023Severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) are the leading cause of paediatric death globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Given the...
BACKGROUND
Severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) are the leading cause of paediatric death globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Given the potential rapid clinical decompensation and high mortality rate from SARIs, interventions that facilitate the early care are critical to improving patient outcomes. Through this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the impact of emergency care interventions on improving clinical outcomes of paediatric patients with SARIs in LMICs.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Global Health, and Global Index Medicus for peer-reviewed clinical trials or studies with comparator groups published before November 2020. We included all studies which evaluated acute and emergency care interventions on clinical outcomes for children (29 days to 19 years) with SARIs conducted in LMICs. Due to observed heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes, we performed narrative synthesis. We assessed bias using the Risk of Bias 2 and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions tools.
RESULTS
We screened 20 583, 99 of which met the inclusion criteria. Conditions studied included pneumonia or acute lower respiratory infection (61.6%) and bronchiolitis (29.3%). Studies evaluated medications (80.8%), respiratory support (14.1%), and supportive care (5%). We found the strongest evidence of benefit for decreasing risk of death for respiratory support interventions. Results were inconclusive on the utility of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We found mixed results for interventions for bronchiolitis, but a possible benefit for hypertonic nebulised saline to decrease hospital length of stay. Early use of adjuvant treatments such as Vitamin A, D, and zinc for pneumonia and bronchiolitis did not appear to have convincing evidence of benefit on clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the high global burden of SARI in paediatric populations, few emergency care (EC) interventions have high quality evidence for benefit on clinical outcomes in LMICs. Respiratory support interventions have the strongest evidence for benefit. Further research on the use of CPAP in diverse settings is needed, as is a stronger evidence base for EC interventions for children with SARI, including metrics on the timing of interventions.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (CRD42020216117).
Topics: Child; Humans; Developing Countries; Pneumonia; Bronchiolitis; Respiratory Tract Infections; Emergency Medical Services
PubMed: 37288550
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04065 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Oct 2014Bronchiolitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening respiratory illness commonly affecting babies. It is often caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Bronchiolitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening respiratory illness commonly affecting babies. It is often caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Antibiotics are not recommended for bronchiolitis unless there is concern about complications such as secondary bacterial pneumonia or respiratory failure. Nevertheless, they are often used.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics for bronchiolitis in children under two years of age compared to placebo or other interventions.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2014, Issue 6), which includes the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infection Group's Specialised Register, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, MEDLINE (1966 to June 2014), EMBASE (1990 to June 2014) and Current Contents (2001 to June 2014).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing antibiotics to placebo in children under two years diagnosed with bronchiolitis, using clinical criteria (including respiratory distress preceded by coryzal symptoms with or without fever). Primary clinical outcomes included time to resolution of signs or symptoms (pulmonary markers included respiratory distress, wheeze, crepitations, oxygen saturation and fever). Secondary outcomes included hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, readmissions, complications or adverse events and radiological findings.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently analysed the search results.
MAIN RESULTS
We included seven studies with a total of 824 participants. The results of these seven included studies were often heterogeneous, which generally precluded meta-analysis, except for deaths, length of supplemental oxygen use and length of hospital admission.In this update, we included two new studies (281 participants), both comparing azithromycin with placebo. They found no significant difference for length of hospital stay, duration of oxygen requirement and readmission. These results were similar to an older study (52 participants) that demonstrated no significant difference comparing ampicillin and placebo for length of illness.One small study (21 participants) with higher risk of bias randomised children with proven RSV infection to clarithromycin or placebo and found a trend towards a reduction in hospital readmission with clarithromycin.The three studies providing adequate data for days of supplementary oxygen showed no difference between antibiotics and placebo (pooled mean difference (MD) (days) -0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.72 to 0.33). The three studies providing adequate data for length of hospital stay, similarly showed no difference between antibiotics (azithromycin) and placebo (pooled MD (days) -0.58; 95% CI -1.18 to 0.02).Two studies randomised children to intravenous ampicillin, oral erythromycin and control and found no difference for most symptom measures.There were no deaths reported in any of the arms of the seven included studies. No other adverse effects were reported.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
This review did not find sufficient evidence to support the use of antibiotics for bronchiolitis, although research may be justified to identify a subgroup of patients who may benefit from antibiotics. Further research may be better focused on determining the reasons that clinicians use antibiotics so readily for bronchiolitis, how to reduce their use and how to reduce clinician anxiety about not using antibiotics.
Topics: Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Bronchiolitis; Clarithromycin; Erythromycin; Humans; Infant; Length of Stay; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 25300167
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005189.pub4 -
Biomedicines Dec 2021Half of acute exacerbations of COPD are due to bacterial infection, and the other half are likely influenced by microbial colonisation. The same organisms commonly... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Half of acute exacerbations of COPD are due to bacterial infection, and the other half are likely influenced by microbial colonisation. The same organisms commonly cultured during acute exacerbations are often found in the sputum of patients during stability. A robust assessment of the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) in the sputum of stable COPD patients may help to inform the targeted prevention of exacerbation by these organisms.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to determine the prevalence of PPMs in patients with COPD in the stable state. Meta-analysis of prevalence was carried out using the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation random effects model, and sub-group analysis was performed for sputum modality. Prevalence of total and individual PPMs was calculated from patient-level data from individual studies.
RESULTS
Pooled prevalence of PPMs identified by sputum culture was found to be 41% (95% CI 36-47%). Significant heterogeneity was found across all studies, which can likely be attributed to inconsistent measuring and reporting of PPMs. The most commonly reported organisms were , , , , and . Declining lung function was weakly correlated with prevalence of PPMs.
CONCLUSION
The airways of patients with COPD are colonised with PPMs during the stable state in almost half of patients. A complex relationship likely exists between the microbiome in the stable state and the phenotype of COPD patients. Targeted microbial therapy for preventing exacerbations of COPD should carefully consider the stable microbiome as well as the exacerbated.
PubMed: 35052762
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010081 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Mar 2020Our review summarizes published literature of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used for the treatment of acute bronchitis in children.
OBJECTIVE
Our review summarizes published literature of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used for the treatment of acute bronchitis in children.
BACKGROUND
Acute bronchitis is one of the most frequent pediatric diseases and has high prevalence for in- and outpatient care. Acute bronchitis is mainly a viral-caused infection, but a high and inappropriate use of antibiotics has been demonstrated in many countries. As CAM therapies might reduce the use of antibiotics and can complement conventional therapies in children, they could be an appropriate treatment option.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using general and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)-specific databases. A search term including 65 CAM-associated definitions was applied.
RESULTS
Literature search revealed 309 articles, whereby 18 articles hit search criteria. These clinical trials were subgrouped into the categories herbal medicine, anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy. The most often studied approaches are herbal remedies, in particular the Pelargonium sidoides extract, EPs® 7630. Its efficacy was demonstrated in three placebo-controlled trials and two observational studies. Anthroposophic approaches (mainly ribwort-containing remedies) were investigated in two controlled trials and three observational studies. Two studies were found investigating the homeopathic remedies Monapax® and Droperteel®.
CONCLUSION
Study results indicate a favorable effect of investigated CAM approaches. However, only three of 18 studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), so a reliable statement on effectiveness was not possible and further RCTs are indispensable.
Topics: Acute Disease; Bronchitis; Child; Complementary Therapies; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 32147041
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102217