Evaluation of Bronchiolitis Severity and Hospitalization Rates in Pediatric Patients in Developing Countries Using the Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score

Background Bronchiolitis is a prevalent respiratory illness in young children, often leading to hospitalization due to severe symptoms. The Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS) is a tool developed to categorize bronchiolitis severity and assist in clinical decision-making. This study evaluates bronchiolitis severity and its correlation with hospitalization rates using the PRESS score. Methods This prospective descriptive study enrolled 82 children (ages, two months to two years) with diagnosed bronchiolitis. Severity was assessed using the PRESS score, categorized into mild (0-1), moderate (2-3), and severe (4-5) groups. Hospitalization was determined based on clinical presentation, six hours after admission. The association between PRESS scores and hospitalization outcomes across demographics was analyzed. Results The PRESS scores classified 33 (40.2%) cases as severe, 27 (32.9%) as moderate, and 22 (26.8%) as mild. Hospitalization rates were higher in children with severe PRESS scores (n = 31, or 63.3%) compared to moderate (n = 18, or 36.7%) and mild cases (n = 0, or 0%). Associations between PRESS scores and hospitalization across demographic categories support PRESS as a predictor of hospitalization. Conclusion In conclusion, our study suggests that PRESS is a useful tool for classifying the severity of bronchiolitis and identifying patients at increased risk of hospitalization. However, given the limitations of this study, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed to validate the PRESS score in diverse populations and across different healthcare settings, to establish its broader applicability.