Persistent cough in children: a pediatric surgeon’s perspective

Background and objectives. The etiology of frequent childhood illnesses is known to be multifactorial. Management of frequently ill children (FIC) remains a critical challenge in pediatric practice. According to various authors, respiratory tract pathology in FIC accounts for 14-83% of the pediatric population. Most domestic pediatric schools classify children as FIC if they experience 4-8 acute respiratory infections (ARI) per year without underlying chronic or congenital pathology. The objective of the study is to optimize early diagnostic and treatment methods for frequently ill children (FIC) to reduce long-term complications and ensure appropriate rehabilitation measures. Materials and methods. The etiology of frequent childhood illnesses is known to be multifactorial. Management of frequently ill children (FIC) remains a critical challenge in pediatric practice. According to various authors, respiratory tract pathology in FIC accounts for 14-83% of the pediatric population. Most domestic pediatric schools classify children as FIC if they experience 4-8 acute respiratory infections (ARI) per year without underlying chronic or congenital pathology. Results. Clinical, radiological, CT, MRI, and bronchological findings are presented for FIC who received prolonged outpatient and inpatient treatment in various healthcare institutions. Between 2017 and 2023, 127 bronchoscopies were performed on 107 FIC patients at the Bishkek City Children's Clinical Emergency Hospital. The following conditions were identified: purulent-fibrinous endobronchitis (69, 64.5%), foreign bodies in the airways (28, 26.7%), lung atelectasis and bronchial anomalies (4, 3.7%), and bronchiectasis (6, 5.6%). Conclusions. The study demonstrated the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy in FIC, particularly in patients with chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and foreign bodies in the lower respiratory tract.