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Detection of pneumonia among children under six years by clinical evaluation

H Shamo'on1, A Hawamdah, R Haddadin

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Queen Alia Military Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan.

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal = La Revue De Sante De La Mediterranee Orientale = Al-Majallah Al-Sihhiyah Li-Sharq Al-Mutawassit
|December 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Coughing, tachypnoea (respiratory rate > 50/min), and chest wall indrawing are key clinical signs for detecting childhood pneumonia. These symptoms, particularly tachypnoea and chest indrawing, effectively identify most pneumonia cases in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pulmonology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Pneumonia is a leading cause of childhood mortality globally.
  • Accurate and timely diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia is crucial for effective treatment.
  • Clinical signs and symptoms are primary tools for initial pneumonia assessment in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the most sensitive and specific clinical symptoms and signs for detecting pneumonia in children.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic utility of specific clinical findings in pediatric pneumonia.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective clinical study was conducted with 147 children admitted with clinical pneumonia.
  • All participants underwent chest X-rays interpreted by a single radiologist.
  • Clinical data, including symptoms and signs, were systematically collected.

Main Results:

  • Coughing, tachypnoea (respiratory rate > 50/min), and chest wall indrawing were identified as the most sensitive and specific indicators.
  • The combination of tachypnoea and lower chest wall indrawing demonstrated high efficacy in detecting most pneumonia cases.
  • Negative clinical signs suggested a low likelihood of positive chest X-ray findings.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical assessment, focusing on coughing, tachypnoea, and chest wall indrawing, is highly valuable for diagnosing pediatric pneumonia.
  • Tachypnoea and lower chest wall indrawing are particularly effective in identifying children with pneumonia.
  • A negative clinical examination may reduce the need for chest X-rays in suspected pediatric pneumonia cases.

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