AAP Policy
HOME HELP E-MAIL ALERTS SEARCH

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 4 October 2006, pp. 1774-1793 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2223)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE

Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis

Subcommittee on Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a disorder most commonly caused in infants by viral lower respiratory tract infection. It is the most common lower respiratory infection in this age group. It is characterized by acute inflammation, edema, and necrosis of epithelial cells lining small airways, increased mucus production, and bronchospasm.

The American Academy of Pediatrics convened a committee composed of primary care physicians and specialists in the fields of pulmonology, infectious disease, emergency medicine, epidemiology, and medical informatics. The committee partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-Based Practice Center to develop a comprehensive review of the evidence-based literature related to the diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis. The resulting evidence report and other sources of data were used to formulate clinical practice guideline recommendations.

This guideline addresses the diagnosis of bronchiolitis as well as various therapeutic interventions including bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antiviral and antibacterial agents, hydration, chest physiotherapy, and oxygen. Recommendations are made for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection with palivizumab and the control of nosocomial spread of infection. Decisions were made on the basis of a systematic grading of the quality of evidence and strength of recommendation. The clinical practice guideline underwent comprehensive peer review before it was approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This clinical practice guideline is not intended as a sole source of guidance in the management of children with bronchiolitis. Rather, it is intended to assist clinicians in decision-making. It is not intended to replace clinical judgment or establish a protocol for the care of all children with this condition. These recommendations may not provide the only appropriate approach to the management of children with bronchiolitis.

Key Words: bronchiolitis

Abbreviations: CAM—complementary and alternative medicine • LRTI—lower respiratory tract infection • AHRQ—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality • RSV—respiratory syncytial virus • AAP—American Academy of Pediatrics • AAFP—American Academy of Family Physicians • RCT—randomized, controlled trial • CLD—chronic neonatal lung disease • SBI—serious bacterial infection • UTI—urinary tract infection • AOM—acute otitis media • SpO2—oxyhemoglobin saturation • LRTD—lower respiratory tract disease





This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Clin. Microbiol. Rev.Home page
W. G. Nichols, A. J. Peck Campbell, and M. Boeckh
Respiratory Viruses Other than Influenza Virus: Impact and Therapeutic Advances
Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2008; 21(2): 274 - 290.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Clin. Microbiol. Rev.Home page
O. Schildgen, A. Muller, T. Allander, I. M. Mackay, S. Volz, B. Kupfer, and A. Simon
Human Bocavirus: Passenger or Pathogen in Acute Respiratory Tract Infections?
Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2008; 21(2): 291 - 304.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
J. M. Mansbach, S. Clark, N. C. Christopher, F. LoVecchio, S. Kunz, U. Acholonu, and C. A. Camargo Jr
Prospective Multicenter Study of Bronchiolitis: Predicting Safe Discharges From the Emergency Department
Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 680 - 688.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
S. Unger and S. Cunningham
Effect of Oxygen Supplementation on Length of Stay for Infants Hospitalized With Acute Viral Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, March 1, 2008; 121(3): 470 - 475.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
K. L. Yorita, R. C. Holman, J. J. Sejvar, C. A. Steiner, and L. B. Schonberger
Infectious Disease Hospitalizations Among Infants in the United States
Pediatrics, February 1, 2008; 121(2): 244 - 252.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
J.-A. S. Harris, W. C. Huskins, J. M. Langley, J. D. Siegel, and for the Pediatric Special Interest Group of the So
Health Care Epidemiology Perspective on the October 2006 Recommendations of the Subcommittee on Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, October 1, 2007; 120(4): 890 - 892.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
C. B. Hall and A. S. Lieberthal
Viral Testing and Isolation of Patients With Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, October 1, 2007; 120(4): 893 - 894.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
J. L. Bass and D. Gozal
Oxygen Therapy for Bronchiolitis: In Reply
Pediatrics, September 1, 2007; 120(3): 687 - 688.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AAP Grand RoundsHome page
M. Weinberger
Corticosteroids Revisited for Acute Bronchiolitis in Hospitalized Children
AAP Grand Rounds, August 1, 2007; 18(2): 13 - 13.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
AAP Grand RoundsHome page
R. I. Paul and M. Weinberger
Routine Chest Radiographs in Acute Bronchiolitis Are Not Necessary
AAP Grand Rounds, August 1, 2007; 18(2): 14 - 15.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
R. N. Shiffman and A. S. Lieberthal
The Importance of Disclaimers: Distinction Between Optimal Care and Standard of Care: In Reply
Pediatrics, August 1, 2007; 120(2): 455 - 455.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
E. J. Slosberg and C. G. Smith Jr, Esquir
The Importance of Disclaimers: Distinction Between Optimal Care and Standard of Care
Pediatrics, August 1, 2007; 120(2): 453 - 455.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
H. M. Corneli, J. J. Zorc, P. Mahajan, K. N. Shaw, R. Holubkov, S. D. Reeves, R. M. Ruddy, B. Malik, K. A. Nelson, J. S. Bregstein, et al.
A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Dexamethasone for Bronchiolitis
N. Engl. J. Med., July 26, 2007; 357(4): 331 - 339.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
C. B. Hall
Therapy for Bronchiolitis: When Some Become None
N. Engl. J. Med., July 26, 2007; 357(4): 402 - 404.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
M. Korppi
Macrolides and bronchiolitis in infants
Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2007; 29(6): 1283 - 1284.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
F. Tahan
From the authors
Eur. Respir. J., June 1, 2007; 29(6): 1284 - 1285.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
E. A.F. Simoes
Maternal Smoking, Asthma, and Bronchiolitis: Clear-Cut Association or Equivocal Evidence?
Pediatrics, June 1, 2007; 119(6): 1210 - 1212.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
A. S. Lieberthal
High-Dose Systemic Corticosteroids May Be Effective Early in the Course of Bronchiolitis: In Reply
Pediatrics, April 1, 2007; 119(4): 865 - 866.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
M. M. Weinberger
High-Dose Systemic Corticosteroids May Be Effective Early in the Course of Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, April 1, 2007; 119(4): 864 - 865.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
J. L. Bass and D. Gozal
Oxygen Therapy for Bronchiolitis
Pediatrics, March 1, 2007; 119(3): 611 - 611.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JWatch PediatricsHome page
New Bronchiolitis Guidelines
Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, January 10, 2007; 2007(110): 3 - 3.
[Full Text]


Home page
AAP NewsHome page
S. Cash
AAP offers evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing, treating bronchiolitis in infants
AAP News, October 1, 2006; 27(10): 1 - 12.
[Full Text]




HOME HELP E-MAIL ALERTS SEARCH
Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.