STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:
The collected data analysed with SPSS 16.0 version. To describe about the data descriptive statistics frequency analysis, percentage analysis were used for categorical variables and the mean and standard deviation were used for continuous variables. To find the significance in the categorical data Chi-square test was used. In the above statistical tool, the probablity valueof 0.25 is considered as significant level.
As seen out of 37 elevated IgE, 20 belong to 2-6 months; 16 of those 7-12 months and one of them is above 1 year. To determine the significance, Chi-square test was performed. The calculated P value was 0.624 (>0.05). Here the serum IgE with regards to age in the study population has not been found to be statistically significant.
As seen out of 27 elevated AEC, 11 were in 2-6 months, 11 were in 7-12 months and 5 above 1 year. To determine the significance, the calculated P value was 0.001 (0.01). Here the correlation between age and AEC has been found to bear a high statistical significance.
RSV PCR was positive in 58.5% among 2-6 months followed by 7.8% among 7-12 months. The P value arrived was 0.001 (<0.01). Hence the correlation between RSV and age has been found to bear high statistical significance.
RESULTS AND TABLES
Estimation Of IgE Levels
Figure 6: SERUM IgE with age
As seen in the above chart among 53 patients 20 had raised IgE levels in the age group of 2 to 6 months. In the age group of 7-12 months 16 had raised IgE levels and above 12 months 1 had raised IgE levels.
ABSOLUTE EOSINOPHIL COUNT:
Figure 8 : Comparision of absolute eosinophil count with age
The above chart represents elevation of eosinophil count with age. As seen from above among 33 patients in less than 6 months 20 had raised levels and among age group of 7 to 12 months 6 had raised levels.
RSV AS AN ETIOLOGICAL AGENT IN BRONCHIOLITIS
Figure 9: Relationship of RSV PCR with Age
As seen from above chart RSV is more common in age group upto 6 months forming 32% followed by 7-12 months with 3%
VIRAL BRONCHIOLITIS AND SUBSEQUENT WHEEZE
This figure represents occurrence of wheeze among bronchiolitis children. Out of raised IgE levels in 37 patient 17 had wheeze. Among 27 raised absolute eosinophil levels 10 had wheeze on follow up. Among the bronchiolitis children with normal values of IgE and Absolute eosinophil count 5 had wheeze on follow up. Out of the subjects who have both IgE and absolute eosinophil count raised 3 had wheeze on follow up.
RESULTS :
Age Distribution: Out of 96 subjects, 53 (55.2%) were in age group 2-6 months followed by 7 months to 1 year with 38 patients and above 1 year with 5 patients.
Sex: Out of 96 subjects who developed bronchiolitis, 62% (60) were males and 38% (36) were females with male to female ratio of 5:3
Complaints: Other than breathlessness, which is invariably presenting symptoms other presentation are Rhinorrhoea (11.4%) fever (31.2%), cough (16.6%), aspiration (16.6%), poor feeding(7.2%), excessive sleepiness (0.3%)
Chest x ray: Among 96 patients 45 patients showed normal xray 35 (36.4%). Hyper inflated lungs 11 (11.4 %) and increased bronchovascular markings 5 (5.2%).
IgE : 37 out of 96 subject has raised IgE which accounts for 38.5% while remaining have normal values.
Serum IgE with age: Among 37 patients, 20 had increased IgE in the age group 2-6 months. 16 in 7-12 months and 1 above 12 months.
AEC: Out of 96 subjects 28.1% (27) had raised AEC levels. Rest 69 subjects had normal values. Among 26 with raised AEC, 20 in the age group < 6 months, 6 in the age group of 7-12 months. Out of 27, 10 had wheeze on follow up.
RSV PCR: 34 (35.4%) had RSV PCR positive. 31 patients falls in the age group less than 6 months, 3 patients in 7-12 months.
Wheeze among elevated IgE: Out of 37 patients, 17 (45.9%) developed wheeze after bronchiolitis on one year of follow up.
Occurrence of wheeze in bronchiolitis: Out of raised IgE in 37 patients, 17 had wheeze. Among 27 raised AEC, 10 had wheeze on follow up. With normal value, 5 had wheeze on follow up. Out of subjects, 8 who have both IgE and raised AEC, 3 had wheeze on follow up.