Acute purulent pericarditis in Omani children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology

Background:

• Purulent pericardial effusion is a rare but severe condition in children.
• It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze cases of purulent pericardial effusion in children at a tertiary care hospital.
• To identify common causative organisms and evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of eight pediatric cases with purulent pericardial effusion.
• Review of clinical data, blood and pericardial fluid cultures, and echocardiography findings.
• Assessment of treatment outcomes including surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy.

Main Results:

• Six of eight patients were under two years of age.
• Common pathogens included Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, and Streptococcus viridans.
• Early diagnosis via echocardiography and prompt surgical drainage with antibiotics led to favorable outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Purulent pericardial effusion in children requires prompt diagnosis and aggressive management.
• Echocardiography is crucial for early diagnosis.
• Effective treatment involves surgical drainage and broad-spectrum antibiotics, significantly reducing mortality.