Bronchiectasis in childhood in the state of Qatar

Abstract EN

We reviewed 35 cases of bronchiectasis seen at the Department ofPediatrics of Hamad Medical Corporation in the State ofQatar.

The main objective was to determine the etiology and the clinical features and to evaluate their management.

Ages ranged from 7 months to 12 years with a mean of63.8 months.

The male tofemale ratio was 1.7:1 and 23 (65.9%) ofthe cases were diagnosed before the age of six years.

Cough waspresentin every case andrales in 30(85.7%) ofthe cases.

Dyspnea, wheezing, clubbing and failure to thrive were found less frequently.

The cause ٠/ the bronchiectasis was unidentifiable in almost 50% of the cases and in the remainder it was due to childhood infection (2 cases), congenital and genetic disorders (6 cases, including 4 cases ٠/ cystic fibrosis, 1 case of ciliary dyskinesia and 1 case with congenital rightء/محمح'اأاا lobe bronchus stenosis), immune defects (4 cases), airway obstruction (4 cases, including two cases offoreign body aspiration), extrinsic compression (1 case), bronchial asthma with right middle lobe syndrome (1 case) andfour miscellaneous cases: Down’s syndrome withA-Vcanal (1 case), persistent RLL atelectasis (2 cases), and mediastinal lymphadenopathy with persistent LLL atelectasis (1 case).

Ofthe various diagnostic methods available, CT was found to be the most conclusive and surpasses the other diagnostic modifies of bronchiectasis in children and should then ءه resorted to any clinical suspicion of the disease.

The outcome ofmedical treatment, (excluding 4 cases of cystic fibrosis) was that 7 cases missedfollow-up, 7 cases respondedfavorably, 4 cases remained unchanged, 2 cases died (one with HIV and one with Down’s syndrome and congenital heart disease) and 11 cases were referred for surgery.

Both medicalandsurgicaltreatments،،٢،? discussed and the recommendations for surgery outlined.