Clinical Evaluation and Prognostic Factors in Cases of Acute Respiratory Distress and Chest Wheezing in Infants

摘要

Wheezing is defined as musical sounds due to airway narrowing heard with or without tne help of stethoscope. Acute respiratory distress and chest wheezing in infants is commonly seen in bronchopneumonia, bronchiolitis and bronchial asthma. Congestive cardiac failure, foreign body aspiration and gastro-esophageal reflux are other conditions leading to respiratory distress and chest wheezing. INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases are the principle causes of illness and death in children in developing countries. Low socio-economic status of parents and malnutrition further increase morbidity and mortality. Whereas diarrheal disease and malnutrition have received considerable attention, acute respiratory infection have often been ignored until recently. The main respiratory syndromes that threaten the lives of children are pneumonia and bronchiolitis. (Bulletin WHO, 1984).