A long-term follow-up study of childhood bronchiectasis

Abstract EN

Objective: This study represents the experience of a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia on non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Method: A retrospective review of all patients with confirmed Non-Cystic Fibrosis (Non-CF) bronchiectasis by chest x-ray and or CT chest in a pulmonary clinic for the period 1993-2005 at a tertiary care center in Riyadh.

Result: A total of 151 cases were diagnosed as Non-CF bronchiectasis.

Seventy-five (49.7%) were males, 76 (50.3%) were females.

Hundred forty-eight (98%) are alive and three (2%) died.

The southwestern regions constituted 72 (50%) of the cases.

There is a period (5±3.2) years between the start of symptoms and the diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

More than two-third of the patients had cough, tachypnea, wheezing, sputum production and failure to thrive.

Ninety-one (60%) had associated disease: pulmonary diseases in 48 (32%), immunodefficiency in 27 (18%), CNS in 18 (12%), cardiac in 12 (8%), and asthma in 103 (68%) of the patients.

Left lower lobes was commonly involved in 114 (76%).

Sixty-eight (67%) was found to have sinusitis.

Forty-nine (32%) developed gastroesophgeal reflux (GER).

Hemophilus influenza was cultured in 56 (37%); strept pneumoniae in 25 (17%), and pseudomonas aeruginosa in 24 (16%) of the patients.

Eighty percent of the patients who had pulmonary function test had abnormal changes.

Disease progression was related to development of symptoms before 5 years of age, persistent atelectasis, and right lower lobe involvement (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Non-CF bronchiectasis is a common problem in Saudi Arabia.

Early recognition and institution of treatment with proper vaccination of available antibacterial and anti-viral vaccines are encouraged to prevent progression of the disease.