[Epidemiologic descriptive study of the clinical characteristics of acute bronchiolitis in patients hospitalized at the pediatric unit of the Manatí Medical Center Hospital].

Acute respiratory infections are the main reason for pediatric visits both to physician's offices and emergency departments. Bronchiolitis is an acute viral respiratory disease that affects about 10% of infants each year and mostly those under age two. The aim of this study was to identify demographic, epidemiological characteristics and risk factors associated with cases of bronchiolitis admitted to the Manati Medical Center (MMC). In addition, we tried to establish the basis for the development of strategies to prevent of hospitalizations and complications in our Institution. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the pediatric wing of MMC in Manati, Puerto Rico between January and December 2009. A total of 508 children were included, 58 % of them male. The average age and weight were 12 +/- 5.3 months and 8.1 +/- 1.4 kg, respectively. We observed a higher predisposition among males as well as a statistically significant relationship between breastfeeding and protection from the disease. No relationship was observed between preterm birth and the parents' smoking habit and the development of the disease. However, the latter factor influences the length of hospital stay. The risk of bronchiolitis was seasonal with a peak between October and November. The presence of respiratory syncitial virus was confirmed in 67 % of the cases.