Etiology and severity of community acquired pneumonia in children from Uruguay: a 4-year study Etiologia e severidade de pneumonia adquirida comunitariamente em crianças uruguaias: um estudo de 4 anos

The 4-year study (1987-1990) covered the major clinical-epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia in children as diagnosed at the emergency service of the Children's Hospital, as well as etiologies, and factors involved in the most severe cases. Etiology was determined in 47.7% of the 541 pn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
Main Authors: Maria Hortal, Adela Suarez, Cristina Deleon, Miguel Estevan, Maria Cristina Mogdasy, José Carlos Russi, Myriam Contera, Miguel Meny
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 1994
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46651994000300010
https://doaj.org/article/2811e2c060f04e43b6cafc56b34aa9bf
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Summary:The 4-year study (1987-1990) covered the major clinical-epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia in children as diagnosed at the emergency service of the Children's Hospital, as well as etiologies, and factors involved in the most severe cases. Etiology was determined in 47.7% of the 541 pneumonia cases, involving 283 pathogens of which 38.6% were viruses and 12.6% bacteria. Viral and mixed etiologies were more frequent in children under 12 months of age. Bacteria predominated in ages between 6 and 23 months. Among the viruses, respiratory syncytial virus predominated (66%). The bacterial pneumonias accounted for 12.2% of the recognized etiologies. The most important bacterial agents were S. pneumoniae (64%) and H. influenzae (19%). H. influenzae and mixed infections had a relevant participation during the 1988 season, pointing to annual variations in the relative participation of pathogens and its possible implication in severity of diseases. Correlation of severity and increased percentage of etiological diagnosis was assessed: patients with respiratory rates over 70 rpm, or pleural effusion and/or extensive pulmonary parenchyma compromise yielded higher positive laboratory results. Various individual and family risk factors were recognized when comparing pneumonia children with healthy controls. O estudo de quatro anos de duração (1987-1990) abarcou as principais características clínico-epidemiológicas de pneumonia em crianças, tal como foi diagnosticado no serviço de emergência do Hospital Infantil, e também as etiologias e fatores implicados nos casos mais severos. Determinou-se a etiologia em 47.7% dos 541 casos de pneumonia, que incluíam 283 patógenos, dos quais 38.6% eram virus e 12.6% bactérias. Observou-se etiologia viral e mista mais freqüentemente nas crianças de menos de 12 meses. A etiologia bacteriana prevaleceu nas idades entre 6 e 23 meses. Com relação aos virus, a predominância foi de RSV com prevalência de 66% do total de virus. Os mais importantes agentes bacterianos foram S. pneumoniae ...