A partial collapse of the lung is referred to as atelectasis and occurs more frequently in young children

than adolescents. It can be caused by anesthesia, shallow breathing and mucus or foreign objects
blocking airway (John Hopkins Children's Center, n.d, para 1). It is often identified diagnosed with
chest radiography (Bye, 2013, para 2). Atelectasis is treated with oral corticosteroids and inhaled
bronchodilators (Bye, 2013, para 1).
Bronchiectasis is the dilatation and thickening of airways. It results from an infection and results in the
inability to clear the airway of material (Boren, Teuber & Gershwin, 2008). Immunizations have lead
to declined instances in pediatrics in the developed countries, though it still occurs often in conjunction
with cystic fibrosis or immune deficiencies, such as HIV (Bye, 2013, para 3). After a cough has been
experienced daily for more than six weeks, bronchiectasis should be considered in a diagnosis. In
young children infants, a loose, wet sounding cough is produced. The young child may swallow
after coughing because they do not expel any phlem (Bye, 201, para 2). Older children have a cough
with a mucus and pus combination from the lower airways expectoration (Redding, 2009). High
resolution computer tomography is the best imaging used for diagnoses, having a sensitivity of 97%
(Boren, Teuber & Gershwin, 2008).
Bronchiolitis also comes from a viral infection of the bronchioles in the lungs, often caused by
respiratory syncytial virus. It is most common in children under 5 and it is estimated around 132,000
172,000 patients with bronchiolitis are hospitalized each year (Teshome, Gattu & Brown, 2013). The
small airways become smaller as they are inflammed and filled with mucus and the muscle around
them tightened, making it hard to breathe (CareNotes, 2013, para 3). Normally, bronchiolities is a
cough, fever and runny nose that lasts 7-10 days, however it can produce more severe symptoms of
respiratory distress that can result in death. Infants younger than 3 months and premature infants who
contract bronchiolities are at risk for apnea, while children with immunodeficiency, congenital heart
disease and cystic fibrosis may experience respiratory failure (Teshome, Gattu & Brown, 2013).
References
Boren, E., Teuber, S., & Gershwin, M. (2008). A Review of non-cystic fibrosis pediatric bronchiectasis.
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 34, 260-273.
Bye, M. (2013). Pediatric Bronchiectasis. Retrieved from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1004692-overview
Bye, M. (2013). Pulmonary Atelectasis Clinical Presentation. Retrieved from:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1001160-clinical#a0217
CareNotes. (2013). Bronchiolitis. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com.huaryu.kl.oakland.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE|
A347294417&v=2.1&u=lom_oaklandu&it=r&p=HRCA&sw=w
John Hopkins' Children Center. (n.d.) Atelectasis. Retrieved from
https://www.hopkinschildrens.org/atelectasis.aspx
Redding, G. (2009). Bronchiectasis in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 56(1) 157-171.

Teshome, G., Gattu, R., Brown, R. (2013). Acute bronchiolitis. Pediatric Clinics of North America,
60(5), 1019-1034.