For a pediatric pulmonologist, the winter brings numerous questions from parents and other physicians regarding the management of recurring breathing problems in infants. Some of these infants have colds and some have chronic wheezing.
Some are hospitalized with bronchiolitis – an inflammation of the small airways of the lung. Bronchiolitis is typically caused by viruses, most commonly the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and infection rates peak from December to March. Symptoms range from just a cold with a runny nose, to wheezing or even severe difficulty breathing requiring hospitalization. Some of the many known risk factors that predispose children to bronchiolitis include daycare attendance, tobacco smoke exposure and prematurity.
A recent study suggests that exposure to pool water in infancy may increase the risk of bronchiolitis. The results of this study showed that 36 percent of children who were exposed to pools before the age of two got bronchiolitis compared with 24 percent of children with bronchiolitis who did not swim during infancy.
The study’s results show that infants who swam for more than 20 hours had an increased risk for bronchiolitis compared to infants who either did not swim or who swam for a fewer number of hours. The study suggests that exposure to chlorine byproducts in the pool water can cause inflammation of lung airways making infants more susceptible to infection.
I’m hesitant to apply the results of this study to all infants and children for several reasons.
