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Evaluating the Usefulness of Lab-Based Test for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Children
Fariba Tarhani1, Alireza Nezami1, Ghobad Heidari1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Insights
Pediatric pneumonia is more common in children under two years old. Leukocytosis in blood tests aids initial diagnosis, while other lab tests may offer limited insights for childhood pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Laboratory Medicine
Background:
- Pneumonia is a significant cause of childhood illness globally.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment in pediatric patients.
- Understanding the utility of routine laboratory tests in diagnosing pediatric pneumonia is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of routine laboratory test results in children diagnosed with pneumonia.
- To identify which laboratory findings are most indicative of pneumonia in this age group.
- To evaluate the diagnostic value of various laboratory tests for pediatric pneumonia in Khorramabad.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 650 children diagnosed with pneumonia.
- Data collection included patient age, sex, serotype, medical history (diabetes mellitus), and symptoms (urinary, digestive).
- Analysis of routine laboratory test results such as blood counts, urine analysis, and blood chemistry.
Main Results:
- No significant gender-based difference in pneumonia prevalence was observed.
- 40% of the pediatric patients were under the age of 2 years.
- Leukocytosis was present in 53.7% of patients; most other tested parameters (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, electrolytes, stool, urine, ESR, CRP, blood sugar) were normal.
Conclusions:
- Infants and toddlers (under 2 years) are at higher risk for pneumonia.
- Leukocytosis is a valuable indicator for the initial diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia, potentially reducing reliance on advanced imaging.
- Routine laboratory tests beyond a complete blood count may yield limited diagnostic information for pneumonia in children; further investigation into urinary and digestive systems is recommended.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of the results of routine laboratory tests for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children in Khorramabad.
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study and was performed on 650 children with pneumonia who were referred to Shahid Madani Hospital. From patients' test results, the following data were recorded: whether the results were normal or not, age, sex, serotype, history of diabetes mellitus, and the presence of urinary and digestive tract symptoms.
Results:
There was no difference in the prevalence of pneumonia, gender-wise, whereas 40% of the patients were under 2 years. In addition, 53.7% of the patients were presented with leukocytosis. From the blood test, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, and potassium were normal in most of the patients. Stool examination, urine analysis, urine culture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and blood sugar were also normal in these patients.
Conclusion:
Children under the age of 2 years are more susceptible to lung infections. Findings from blood tests such as leukocytosis are useful for making initial diagnosis other than computed tomography scan. Other lab tests might not give any useful results. In addition, a closer examination of the urinary system and digestive tract involvement is recommended, prior to urine or stool analysis.
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