Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Assessing the child with cough or difficult breathing
P M Enarson1, D A Enarson, R Gie
1Child Lung Health Division, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France. penarson@iuatld.org
Insights
Clinical assessment is crucial for diagnosing pneumonia in low-income countries. Healthcare workers must identify key signs to determine severity and guide antibiotic treatment for better child outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Distinguishing upper respiratory infections from pneumonia in low-income settings relies solely on clinical assessment.
- Pneumonia severity dictates the need for potent antibiotics and oxygen therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the critical clinical signs for diagnosing pneumonia in children.
- To guide healthcare workers in assessing pneumonia severity and co-morbidities.
Main Methods:
- Detailed description of clinical signs to evaluate respiratory rate, chest in-drawing, feeding ability, cyanosis, and consciousness.
- Emphasis on identifying co-existing conditions like malnutrition, measles, HIV, and malaria.
Main Results:
- Specific clinical indicators are presented for accurate pneumonia diagnosis and severity grading.
- Co-morbid conditions significantly impact pneumonia mortality and require prompt recognition.
Conclusions:
- Accurate clinical assessment is vital for effective pneumonia management in resource-limited environments.
- Identifying and treating co-morbidities alongside pneumonia improves patient survival rates.
Abstract:
In most low-income countries, clinical assessment is the only tool available to distinguish an upper respiratory infection (cough or cold) from pneumonia requiring antibiotics. The severity of the pneumonia, determined from the clinical signs, will determine which patients require more potent antibiotic regimens and supplementary oxygen. Careful assessment of the respiratory rate, chest in-drawing, ability to feed normally, cyanosis and level of consciousness are used to make the diagnosis of pneumonia and determine the severity. Co-morbid disease such as malnutrition, measles, HIV infection and malaria increase mortality due to pneumonia, and signs of these diseases must be looked for so that appropriate treatment can be started. This article carefully describes the signs that should be looked for in children presenting with a cough or difficult breathing to any health care worker.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
01:28Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract IV: Auscultation
Breath Sounds
Breath sounds are categorized into vesicular, bronchovesicular, and bronchial.
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...