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Bronquiolitis - Overview

Definición:

Es una hinchazón y acumulación de moco en las vías aéreas más pequeñas en los pulmones (bronquiolos), por lo general debido a una infección viral.

Causas:

La bronquiolitis por lo general afecta a los niños menores de dos años: la edad pico se encuentra entre los tres y seis meses. Es una enfermedad común y algunas veces grave. La causa más frecuente es el virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR). Más de la mitad de los bebés están expuestos a este virus en su primer año de vida.

Otros virus que pueden causar la bronquiolitis pueden ser:

Usted puede contraer el virus si entra en contacto directo con las secreciones nasales o gotitas aerotransportadas de alguien que tenga la enfermedad. Esto puede suceder si la persona tose o estornuda cerca de usted.

La bronquiolitis se da en algunas épocas del año y aparece con mayor frecuencia en los meses de otoño e invierno. Ésta es una razón muy común de hospitalización de niños menores de un año durante el invierno y comienzos de la primavera.

Los factores de riesgo de bronquiolitis abarcan:

  • Exposición al humo del cigarrillo
  • Edad menor de seis meses
  • Vivir en condiciones de hacinamiento
  • Falta de amamantamiento
  • Prematuridad (nacer antes de las 37 semanas de gestación)
  • Reviewed last on: 8/2/2011
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Watts KD, Goodman DM. Wheezing, bronchiolitis, and bronchitis. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 383.

American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on the Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis. Diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis. Pediatrics. 2006;118:1774-1793.

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