Summary Sequential blood gas tensions and pH have been measured in 84 children selected from 486 admitted to hospital during a 15-month period with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Of those selected 73 were treated conservatively and 11 by intermittent positive-pressure ventilation; one infant in the latter group died. Respiratory syncytial virus (R.S.V.) was isolated from 24 out of 62 patients studied and the main pathogen in the most severely affected infants. Statistical analysis showed that age and R.S.V. infection were independent determinants of severity, as reflected by a peak Pco2 measurement at the height of the iliness (age, P < 001; R.S.V. 0-05 > P > 001).
IntroductionIn Britain acute lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and bronchopneumonia) are the main respiratory illnesses causing adrmission to hospital of children under the age of 2 years. When these conditions are considered together as "bronchiolitis" the mortality rate is about 5 % (Heycock and