Follicular bronchitis in the pediatric population.

Five patients in a pediatric population were identified with idiopathic follicular bronchitis (IFB) by open lung biopsy and their case records were reviewed. All were tachypneic and had a chronic cough by 6 weeks of age. The physical examination was characterized by diffuse fine crackles in four patients and by coarse rhonchi in one. The chest radiographs in all demonstrated a diffuse interstitial pattern. None had a collagen vascular or an autoimmune disease demonstrable. Response to corticosteroid therapy was minimal. Associated or coincidental esophageal reflux was treated surgically in two. No viral or bacterial agents were isolated in the sputum or the biopsy specimens. Patients have been followed up for 2 to 15 years; the conditions of all patients improved at about 2 to 4 years of age. The older patients have residual mild obstructive lung disease. To our knowledge, this is the first reported series of IFB in the pediatric population.