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Prevalence of persistent pneumonia among severe pneumonia and nutritional status as its associated risk factor: A
Akanksha D Srivastava1, Shally Awasthi1, Sugandha Jauhari2
1Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Insights
Malnourishment significantly increases the risk of persistent pneumonia in young children. This study found a 6.8% prevalence of persistent pneumonia, highlighting malnutrition as a key factor in severe childhood pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Malnourishment is a recognized risk factor for persistent pneumonia in children under five years old.
- Severe pneumonia poses a significant health threat to young children globally.
- Understanding the interplay between nutritional status and pneumonia severity is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of persistent pneumonia in children under five years of age.
- To investigate the association between nutritional status and the severity of pneumonia in this age group.
- To identify malnutrition as a potential determinant of persistent pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational hospital-based study was conducted.
- Participants included children aged 1 month to 5 years diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
- Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements (weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height); children were followed for 4-6 weeks to determine persistent pneumonia.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of persistent pneumonia was 6.8%.
- A significant association was found between nutritional status (weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height) and pneumonia severity (P < 0.001).
- Children with weight-for-age ≤ -3SD had significantly higher odds of developing persistent pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Persistent pneumonia affects 6.8% of children under five with severe pneumonia.
- Malnutrition is a major determinant of persistent pneumonia in this vulnerable population.
- Nutritional status assessment is vital for managing severe pneumonia in children.
Background:
Malnourishment is a risk factor for persistent pneumonia among under-five children with severe pneumonia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of persistent pneumonia and the association between nutritional status and pneumonia severity in children under 5 years of age.
Methodology:
A prospective observational hospital-based study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, King George's Medical University (KGMU) from May 2019 to April 2020 among children aged 1 month to 5 years admitted with a diagnosis of severe pneumonia. An anthropometric assessment along with general and systemic examination was conducted. Weight for age, height for age and weight for height were calculated to assess the nutritional status. Children with severe pneumonia were followed for 4-6 weeks to assess the prevalence of persistent pneumonia.
Results:
The prevalence of persistent pneumonia was 6.8%, while 32 (31.1%) and 64 (62.1%) patients had recurrent and severe pneumonia, respectively. No statistically significant distribution was observed in age, sex, residential area, parent's education or occupation of the child. The statistically significant distribution was seen on assessing nutritional status based on weight for age, height for age and weight for height (P value- 0.001, 0.001, 0.0001). Those with weight for age ≤ 3SD were anaemics and up to 1 year of age had 5.21, 3.52 and 2.83 times more odds of having persistent pneumonia, respectively.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of persistent pneumonia among children less than 5 years of age was 6.8%. Malnutrition can be considered a major determinant of persistent pneumonia among children under 5 years of age.
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