Risk Factors for Development of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in Children with Bronchiolitis

Background: bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is an uncommon and severe form of chronic obstructive lung disease in children that results from an insult to the lower respiratory tract. Methods: we performed a case-control study with 109 cases and 99 controls in children under the age of 3 years to determine risk factors for the development of bronchiolitis obliterans. Participants were evaluated with immunoflourescence viral testing, pulmonary function, and questions to assess tobacco and other exposures. Results: bronchiolitis due to adenovirus (odds ratio = 49, 95 % confidence interval = 12-199) and the need for mechanical ventilation (odds ratio = 11, 95 % confidence interval = 2.6-45) were strongly and independently associated with increased risk for bronchiolitis obliterans. Factors not associated with post-infectious BO included child age, gender, and environmental tobacco exposure (either in uterus or during infancy). Conclusions: we found that adenovirus infection and need for mechanical ventilation ar