529 Prevalence of Bronchitis and Revealing of the Risk Factors in the Children's Population

BACKGROUND: It is well known that with change oc climatic conditions cases of various diseases increase and especially, with cold climate, the frequency of acute respiratory diseases, especially, the influenza, rhinites, bronchitis, etc. grows. OBJECTIVE: To study of prevalence of bronchitis and its risk factors in children's population. METHODS: Study was conducted in the selected pediatric clinics of Tbilisi and involved 698 children from 6 months to 5 years age, based on the random and representative groups. Epidemiological study was conducted by cross-section method. Questioning was provided based on the questionnaire specially developed for this purpose. Study of the factors of the cause significance was provided on the basis of anamnesis data. Obtained results were processed by means of special software package SPSS/V11.5. RESULTS: According to the questioning, acute bronchitis was indicated 3 times, in 56.2% of the children's population, of which 47.4% were boys and 52.6% - girls. 43.8% of the population suffered complications in a form of pneumonia. In 21.9% of cases bronchitis was diagnosed for the first time. Wheezing was regarded as a risk factor (78.5%), serous nasal discharge (87.3%), cough, regarding its nature (68.3%) (short cough, wet cough productive cough), in part of the respondents lacrimation was indicated (35.6%), there was also indicated in children the immunodeficiency, sex, socioeconomic status, heredity factor, overcrowded homes. Prevalence of the symptoms of bronchitis was quite higher (P < 0.05) among girls, compared with the boys. 98.9% of the respondents with the symptoms of bronchitis stated that the disease was of seasonal nature, mostly from early October to end of March (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, single-stage epidemiological study showed that frequency of bronchitis in children's population is quite high, with prevalence among girls (59.9%).