Effect of type of feeding on duration of hospital stay in acute bronchiolitis

Aim: to determine the role of type of feeding on duration of hospital stay in acute bronchiolitis. study design: descriptive study place of study & duration: this was conducted at pediatric medicine department of nishtar medical college and hospital,multan,over a period of 6 months from october 2012 to march 2013. methods: all children between the ages 2 months to 2 years with symptoms and signs of low grade fever,cough,tachypnea and first episode of wheezing,or crackles on pulmonary auscultation who required hospitalization were included in this study. results: there were 188 patients,including 101(53.7%) males and 87(46.3%) females. there were 56 exclusively breast fed children,96 predominantly breast fed and 36 having total artificial feeding. at admission most of the children were having age less than 6 months with median age (in months) 4.1±1.1 in exclusive breastfed children,3.4±1.2 in predominant breastfed and 3.7±1.3 in artificial feed children. mean duration of hospital stays were 3±1.1 days (2-6months of age),2±1.4 (7-12 months),2±1.2 (13-18months) and 1±1.4 (17-24 months) among exclusively breast fed children. duration of hospital stays were 4±2.1 (2-6 months of age),4±1.2 (7-12 months),3±1.4 (13-18 months) and 1±1.3 (17-24 months) among predominantly breast fed children. whereas mean duration of hospital stay was 4±2.2 (2-6 months),3±1.2 (7-12 months),3±1.6 (17-24 months) and 2±1.4 (17-24 months). conclusion: breast feeding has strong protective effect against acute bronchiolitis and it also decreases the morbidity in the form of duration of hospitalization.