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Bronchiectasis in Indigenous children in remote Australian communities

Anne B Chang, Keith Grimwood, E Kim Mulholland and Paul J Torzillo, for the Working Group on Indigenous Paediatric Respiratory Health
Med J Aust 2002; 177 (4): 200-204. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04733.x
Published online: 19 August 2002

Abstract

  • The rates of bronchiectasis for Indigenous children from remote Australian communities are unacceptably high, with one study showing 14.7/1000 Aboriginal children.

  • Children with bronchiectasis need to be identified early for optimisation of medical treatment. Under-reporting of cough is common. Bronchiectasis should be suspected in children with recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, and when, despite appropriate therapy, pulmonary infiltrates or atelectasis persist 12 weeks beyond the index illness.

  • During acute infective episodes, oral antibiotics and chest physiotherapy to clear the airways should produce prompt resolution; otherwise, hospitalisation is necessary.

  • Management follows the cystic fibrosis model of regular review, encouragement of physical activity, optimising nutrition, maintenance of immunisation and avoidance of environmental toxicants, including passive smoke exposure.

  • Successful management and prevention of bronchiectasis will require improvements in housing, nutrition, and education, as well as access to comprehensive healthcare services, with coordination between primary and hospital-based healthcare providers.

Bronchiectasis is a progressive disease process characterised by dilated, thick-walled bronchi caused by chronic bacterial or viral infection and inflammation. It is now rarely encountered in developed countries, except in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), or in association with other underlying causes such as ciliary dyskinesia, immune deficiency or focal lung abnormalities. In contrast, bronchiectasis remains common among Indigenous populations, involving 1%–2% of all children, with symptoms frequently dating back to infancy.1,2

The burden of ill-health from respiratory disease among Indigenous Australians is significant.3 Respiratory disease is the commonest preventable, defined cause of infant deaths,4 the most common disorder in children aged under 5 years in Northern Territory hospital morbidity data,5 and the second-highest cause of death among adults. The true prevalence of bronchiectasis and associated respiratory illness in Indigenous children in Australia is unknown, but is likely to be disproportionately high in rural and remote communities. A recently completed central Australian study estimated the rate of bronchiectasis (confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography [HRCT]6,7) in children aged under 15 years as 147 per 10 000 Aboriginal children (unpublished data), a rate 40-fold greater than that for CF in non-Indigenous populations (35 per 100 000).8 However, there are no programs or resources to manage these patients, and even a perception that "nothing can be done" — similar to the situation that existed for patients with CF several decades ago.

Consequently, the Working Group on Indigenous Paediatric Respiratory Health developed consensus recommendations. The consensus process is summarised in Box 1, our recommendations are listed in Box 2 and research goals in Box 3. The recommendations were conditioned by the current incomplete knowledge of the aetiology and disease mechanisms of bronchiectasis, and a lack of large randomised-controlled trials able to detect clinically significant differences for interventions in non-CF bronchiectasis. These limitations were most apparent in children. For these reasons, the consensus recommendations are based on the best available evidence, including extrapolation from studies in CF patients.

Early detection (Box 2, Objective A)
Diagnosis

The clinical case definition of bronchiectasis is imprecise and its severity and extent is highly variable, ranging from mild respiratory morbidity to death. Symptoms suggestive of the disease are listed in Box 2. Chest radiographs are relatively insensitive, one study detecting fewer than 50% of patients with bronchography-proven bronchiectasis.6 Peribronchial fibrosis thickens bronchial walls so that they are seen as "tramlines", especially in the lower lobes. HRCT optimised with a high-spatial-frequency reconstruction algorithm is the current "gold standard" for identifying bronchiectatic airways.9 Typical HRCT findings of bronchiectasis include "signet-ring" appearance (dilated bronchus compared with adjacent pulmonary artery), loss of bronchial tapering, and end-expiratory scans showing increased translucency in areas of air trapping from small-airways disease.

Recurrent lower respiratory tract infection

Infection is an important contributor to later respiratory morbidity, chronic lung disease and pulmonary function abnormalities.10-18 The nasopharyngeal spaces of Indigenous central Australian children are heavily colonised by potential respiratory tract bacterial pathogens,19 and the attack rates of acute lower respiratory tract infection are similar to those in children in developing countries.20 Of 116 children aged under 15 years admitted to Alice Springs Hospital (October 2000 – April 2001) with radiologically defined lobar pneumonia, 58 (50%) had previously been hospitalised on two or more occasions for acute lower respiratory tract infections. As of June 2001, of 76 children (84 episodes, 64% of children) reviewed 2–8 months later, 10 (13%) were diagnosed with bronchiectasis by HRCT in the non-acute state (unpublished data). Given the high rate of respiratory morbidity after hospitalisation in this patient group, clinical follow-up is recommended as a minimum (C1).

Investigations

The principal aims of investigations in children with suspected bronchiectasis are to confirm the diagnosis, to define the distribution and severity of airway involvement, and to identify familial and treatable causes of bronchiectasis. Chest HRCT should identify congenital lesions and determine the extent and severity of disease. Lung function tests are non-specific, but in older children provide a measure of functional impairment and small-airways involvement.18 Other investigations include sputum culture for bacteria and mycobacterial species, sweat testing (although CF is extremely rare in Aboriginal children), Mantoux testing, immune function assessment (differential white-cell count, HIV, immunoglobulins G, A, M, E and IgG subclasses, antibody responses to protein and polysaccharide antigens) and nasal cilia biopsy (C2) (although transient abnormal cilia are often found with nasal space disease, which is a very common occurrence in rural Indigenous children).20 For selected patients, bronchoscopy to exclude a foreign body and obstructive bronchiectasis, as well as fluoroscopic examination for aspiration, are recommended (C1). The extent of investigations has to be considered on an individual basis for children from remote communities (C1).

Management (Box 2, Objective B)

Without adequate data to guide management of non-CF bronchiectasis, a similar approach to the management of CF21,22 (and ciliary dyskinesia23) is recommended (C2). However, it is uncertain whether CF patients, with their multiorgan involvement, exaggerated airway inflammatory responses and accelerated disease progression, serve as the best model of care for those with bronchiectasis from other aetiologies. In addition, the respiratory pathogens involved only partially overlap.21

Management of bronchiectasis involves aggressive treatment of recurrent exacerbation, promotion of mucociliary clearance (chest physiotherapy, exercise, etc), a vigilant approach to reduce lung damage from other causes (eg, aspiration), promotion of normal growth, management of psychosocial aspects, and identification and treatment of complications as they arise.21,24 Other aspects include regular review, optimising nutrition, maintenance of immunisation and avoidance of environmental toxicants, including passive smoke exposure.

Treatment of infection
Infective organisms

There are no published data on organisms that colonise and cause exacerbations in Indigenous Australian children with bronchiectasis. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis, bacteria that colonise the nasopharynx, cause lower respiratory tract infections and are associated with bronchiectasis in other Indigenous populations.2,19 Unlike in CF,28 Staphylococcus aureus is uncommon, and opportunistic pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa are usually only found in the sputum of older patients with advanced disease.29,30 Sputum cultures may be contaminated by upper-airway organisms and antibiotics should be directed against anticipated pathogens. More invasive testing, for example by induced sputum or bronchial lavage, should be considered if symptoms persist (C2).

Antibiotic therapy

When bronchiectasis is mild, antibiotics may eradicate the infection, and lung defences keep the airways sterile or bacterial numbers low for prolonged periods.31 If airway injury is more severe, the bronchi are chronically infected and symptoms may rapidly return. However, apart from studies on chronic P. aeruginosa infection in adults with CF, there are no studies to show that long-term antibiotics prevent disease progression.32 It is for this reason, and the risk of selecting resistant organisms, that interval rather than suppressive antibiotic therapy is recommended (C1).

Children with a chronic moist-sounding cough should receive antibiotics such as amoxycillin–clavulanate (or high dose amoxycillin, co-trimoxazole, cefaclor) for 2–6 weeks or until the cough resolves (C1). If the cough does not improve, the patient requires specialist reassessment or hospitalisation, particularly if there is a deterioration in general health, weight loss, reduced lung function or new radiographic infiltrates (C2). Inpatient management includes parenteral antibiotics, such as ampicillin, cefotaxime or ceftriaxone, and intensive physiotherapy (C1). When P. aeruginosa is present, ciprofloxacin or combined therapy with an antipseudomonal β-lactam and an aminoglycoside is preferred (C1). Given the lack of resources in their communities, Indigenous children with moderate or severe bronchiectasis are more likely to require hospitalisation (C2).

Antibiotics in adults with bronchiectasis significantly improve quality-of-life measures,30,33 and airway and systemic33 inflammatory profiles.33,34 Similar information in children is lacking, and there are no data evaluating the effects of long-term antibiotics on acquisition of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Other measures

Reactive airways disease can be present in children with bronchiectasis,35 and the use of asthma medications should be individualised (C1). There are insufficient data to recommend the regular use of inhaled or oral corticosteroids,36 β2-agonists, mucolytics or methylxanthines in patients with bronchiectasis.

Public health issues and healthcare delivery (Box 2, Objective C)

These extremely important topics cannot be adequately covered in this article. In brief, health is closely linked to socioeconomic factors.39 Successful management and prevention of bronchiectasis among Indigenous populations will only be achieved by delivering comprehensive healthcare, accompanied by improvements in housing, nutrition and education, and by alleviation of poverty and unemployment (C1).

The effects of in-utero and ex-utero exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on children's respiratory system include reduced lung function, increased acute lower respiratory tract infection, and middle-ear disease40 (E3). Indoor wood smoke increases acute lower respiratory tract infection, demonstrating an exposure–response effect41 (E3). Interventions to reduce environmental tobacco smoke and biomass smoke exposure are urgently needed. The association between maternal education and childhood health indices in developing nations42 has not been shown to occur in the Australian Indigenous population. An increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection is associated with greater numbers of house occupants, damp housing, macro- and micromalnutrition, and inadequate water supply43,44 (E3).

No single model of healthcare delivery can be used for all Indigenous communities. A comprehensive and competent primary healthcare service is a prerequisite for the effective delivery of any treatment and disease control program. Education of primary healthcare providers to identify appropriate children for referral and primary management of children with bronchiectasis would be beneficial (C2).

The challenge for health service systems is to find ways to deliver effective, competent and quality healthcare despite problems that include remoteness, endemic poverty, severe educational disadvantage, dysfunctional communities, and extreme comorbidities in both children and their carers.

2: Recommendations

Objective A: To encourage early diagnosis of bronchiectasis

  • Bronchiectasis should be suspected in any child with recurrent lower respiratory tract infection, prolonged moist-sounding cough, exertional dyspnoea, symptoms of reactive airways disease, growth failure, hyperinflation of lungs, chest deformity or digital clubbing (E3). Under-reporting of cough is common and obtaining additional medical information from the local community (clinic staff, notes, carers, health workers) is important (C1).

  • For prompt detection of bronchiectasis, all Indigenous children with radiologically proven pneumonia should undergo clinical review (C1). If the child is aged < 2 years, has a history of recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, atelectasis is present in the initial radiograph, or a chronic cough (> 4–6 weeks) is suspected, a chest radiograph is performed 6–8 weeks after treatment to ensure complete radiological resolution (C2).

  • When, despite treatment, radiological changes persist for more than 3 months, or when symptoms and/or signs suggest the presence of bronchiectasis, chest high-resolution computed tomography scans should be performed in the non-acute state (C1).

Objective B: To optimise medical management to reduce morbidity and preserve lung function

  • Management following CF models of care is recommended (C2). Exacerbations are treated with antibiotics determined by sputum bacteriology (E3). Treatment duration of 2–6 weeks is defined by the child's general health, the amount of sputum and the pathogen cultured (E3). When respiratory secretion collection is not possible, empirical antibiotic therapy is directed at pathogens commonly associated with bronchiectasis (C2).

  • Children with bronchiectasis should be reviewed 3-monthly by the most appropriate local doctor, in consultation with other healthcare providers, and have a minimum 6-monthly review by a paediatrician or respiratory physician (C2).

  • Immunisation status should be reviewed and updated (C1).

Objective C: To promote public health issues and healthcare delivery

  • Exposure to wood smoke and environmental tobacco smoke should be minimised (E3).

  • A culture- and expertise-appropriate healthcare delivery model and a coordinated approach among various healthcare providers should be used (C1).

  • The socioeconomic determinants of health must be recognised (C1).

  • Anne B Chang1
  • Keith Grimwood2
  • E Kim Mulholland3
  • Paul J Torzillo4
  • for the Working Group on Indigenous Paediatric Respiratory Health

  • 1 Northern Territory Clinical School, Flinders University, Alice Springs, NT.
  • 2 Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • 3 Centre for International Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC.
  • 4 University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 420/RPAH Medical Centre, Newtown, NSW.


Correspondence: abchang@mac.com

Acknowledgements: 

The workshop was sponsored by the Alice Springs Hospital Management Board, Abbott Australasia, GlaxoSmithKline Australia, Bayer Australia, the Centre for Remote Health, and Flinders University Northern Territory Clinical School.

Participating/contributing members of the Indigenous paediatric healh respiratory workshop

Adelaide: R Antic* (Royal Adelaide Hospital); I J Martin* (Women's & Children's Hospital.

Alice Springs: A Brown* (Centre for Disease Control); A B Chang*, M Segasothy*, J Thurley† (Flinders University Northern Territory Clinical School); S Bollisetty†, T Clothier*, J Erlich*, A L Jaquirey*, C Mathews*, G Wheaton* (Alice Springs Hospital); D Ewald*, J Wakerman* (Centre for Remote Health); A White* (Remote Health); Richard Lim† (general practitioner and member of NT parliament).

Auckland: M I Asher†, C Byrnes* (Starship Children's Hospital).

Brisbane: I B Masters*, P Francis† (Royal Children's Hospital).

Darwin: D Brewster* (Flinders University Northern Territory Clinical School); P Bauert*, G McGuire* (Royal Darwin Hospital); A Leach*, P Morris*, B Currie† (Menzies School of Health Research), V Krause* (Centre for Disease Control).

Melbourne: K Mulholland*, P D Phelan*, P J Robinson†, J Massie† (Royal Children's Hospital).

Newcastle: J Stuart† (John Hunter Hospital).

Perth: L Landau†, P N Le Souëf* (University of Western Australia); P Sly†, S Stick† (Princess Margaret Hospital); D Lehmann* (TVW Telethon Children's Institute, Perth); R Edwards* (Australian Council on Smoking and Health).

Sydney: P McIntyre*, C Mellis†, P Van Asperen† (Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney); J Morton† (Sydney Children's Hospital); P J Torzillo* (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; and Nganampa Health Council).

Wellington: K Grimwood* (Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences).


* Attended meeting and/or presented data and contributed to document.† Contributed to and/or supported document.

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