الفهرس 
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Abstract
IDA is a common health problem that affects progress, with a significant impact on the severity of AVB. Recent studies have shown that lower serum iron is associated with an increased risk of morbidity in patients with clinically significant LRTI, including AVB. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of IDA in children on the severity of AVB and to correlate serum iron with various clinical presentations and laboratory data. Sixty children with AVB, with and without IDA, were enrolled in this study. They were selected from those admitted to the Pediatric Department, Tanta University, during the period from October 2022 to April 2023. They were classified into three groups: group 1 included 60 children with AVB, further subdivided into three groups - mild AVB (20 children), moderate AVB (20 children), and severe AVB (20 children). This was compared to group 2, which included 20 healthy children attending the primary health care unit for regular follow-up, matched for age and sex as the control group. All the children underwent: 1. Full history taking, including the name, age, sex, chief complaint, past medical history, and family history. 2- Thorough clinical examination, encompassing heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, signs of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), signs of acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB), and comprehensive local respiratory examination. Investigations: A. CBC (Complete Blood Count): This includes assessing hemoglobin level, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell count (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelet count. B. Serum iron, TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity), and ferritin: These tests help evaluate the iron status of the patient. C. Plain X-ray: Chest and heart X-rays are conducted to assess signs of chest infection and consolidation. D. CRP (C-reactive protein): This test is performed to evaluate the type of infection and exclude bacterial infection. The results of the present study showed the following: No statistically significant differences were observed between the studied groups in terms of age, sex, or weight. The incidence of AVB was higher in children with a family history of atopy in group 1 (36.7%) compared to group 2 (15%), although this difference was statistically insignificant (p<0.07). More severe cases were observed in males (p<0.022). There was a significant increase in the incidence of AVB in children born by lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) (p<0.021), particularly in moderate cases (p<0.021). Serum iron levels were lower in group 1 (AVB cases) compared to control group 2. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the level of serum iron and the severity of acute bronchiolitis (p<0.01). A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the level of TIBC and the severity of acute bronchiolitis (p<0.026). There was a statistically insignificant difference (p<0.722) in serum ferritin levels between both groups in the study.