BRONCHILITIS IN CHILDREN: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF SMALL AIRWAY DISEASE

Abstract

Bronchiolitis is the most frequent form of injury to small airways. It is the common name for various inflammatory conditions, which associated with involvement of bronchioles. Acute viral bronchiolitis – usually a form of injury to small airways of children. However pathophysiological changes of small airways are common for most other conditions: various airway infections, connective tissue diseases, immune deficiencies, lung or bone marrow transplantation, diseases related to environmental exposures to pollutants, allergens and drugs. These conditions are rare for children. Bronchioles injury of children is usually caused by severe viral airway infections. The most frequent type of these rare forms of primary bronchiolar injury – obliterative (constrictive) bronchiolitis. Despite the fact that the prognosis of such illness is favorable for children, bronchiolitis obliterans can be the cause of fibrotic changes, airflow limitation or bronchiectasis. Wide variety of causative factors and the rarity of the pathology lead to late diagnosis of bronchiolar injury. Non-invasive methods for the diagnosis have been greatly improved by progress in CT scan imaging, and novel possibilities may even increase our ability to monitor small airways disease without the requirement of lung biopsy. New clinical knowledge and diagnostic possibilities may result in earlier diagnosis of small airway damage for children and assignment of early and more effective treatment.