Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Predominant Cause of Childhood Bronchiectasis in India

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinicodemographic and etiological profile of pediatric patients with bronchiectasis in a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India. Methods: A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Northern India. A total of 31 cases of bronchiectasis were reviewed, those were diagnosed at our center between July 2011 and December 2013. The diagnosis was confirmed using high-resolution computed tomography. Medical records were analyzed for demographic data, clinical presentation, pulmonary function testing, and microbial isolation. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination to identify etiologic factors. Results: A total of 31 cases were diagnosed with bronchiectasis of which 15 (48.38%) were male and 16 (51.61%) were female. The median age at the time of the diagnosis of bronchiectasis was 12 years (IQR = 4, range = 4 months - 17 years). Persistent wet cough was the most common symptom. The underlying etiologies could be identified in 19 patients (58.06%). Pulmonary tuberculosis was identified as the most common etiology (10/19 i.e. 52.63%). Other causes that could be identified were bronchial asthma (2/19), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (2/19), cystic fibrosis (2/19), X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (1/19), primary ciliary dyskinesia (1/19), and spinal muscular atrophy (1/19). Conclusion: Tuberculosis is a major cause of childhood bronchiectasis in India. Early diagnosis and treatment directed towards the underlying cause is vital to prevent further progression of the disease.