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Clinical analysis of 255 children with multiple serous effusions
Wenwen Jin1, Liying Lu1, Qiqi Gao1
1The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Insights
Pediatric multiple serous effusions stem from diverse causes like pneumonia and trauma, varying with age and sex. The number of affected cavities indicates disease severity, guiding clinical decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Pathology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Multiple serous effusions in children present a complex diagnostic challenge.
- Understanding the etiological spectrum and clinical features is crucial for effective management.
- This study investigates the causes and characteristics of multiple serous effusions in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the etiological spectrum of multiple serous effusions in pediatric patients.
- To correlate clinical features and pathological findings with effusion characteristics.
- To inform clinical decision-making for pediatric patients with multiple serous effusions.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted on 255 pediatric patients.
- Data were collected from January 1, 2014, to July 1, 2024.
- Etiologies, clinical features, and effusion characteristics were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Pneumonia (31.37%) and trauma (10.98%) were the most common causes.
- Etiologies showed age and sex-specific patterns, with distinct patterns for tumors and connective tissue diseases.
- Pleural effusion was most common (95.3%), followed by peritoneal (73.3%) and pericardial (53.3%).
- Effusion characteristics correlated with underlying diseases; triple cavity effusions indicated more severe disease with specific biomarker changes.
Conclusions:
- The etiology of pediatric multiple serous effusions is diverse and age-dependent.
- Effusion location and characteristics are linked to the underlying cause.
- The extent of effusion involvement may predict disease severity in pediatric patients.
Background:
This study aimed to analyze the etiological spectrum, clinical features, and pathological correlates of multiple serous effusions in pediatric patients to inform clinical decision-making.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted on 255 children diagnosed with multiple serous effusions at the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 1, 2014, and July 1, 2024.
Results:
The most common identified causes were pneumonia (n = 80, 31.37%), and trauma (n = 28, 10.98%). Etiologies demonstrated age and sex-specific patterns. Pneumonia predominated in preschool/school-aged children, and trauma was more common among preschool/school-aged boys. Tumors mainly affected school-aged/adolescent males, while connective tissue diseases (primarily systemic lupus erythematosus) predominated in adolescent females. Pleural effusion was the most common manifestation (n = 243, 95.3%), followed by peritoneal (n = 187, 73.3%) and pericardial effusions (n = 136, 53.3%). The nature and distribution of effusions correlated with the underlying disease. Pneumonia/tumor cases exhibited higher susceptibility to pleural and pericardial effusions, predominantly exudative. Connective tissue disease cases frequently demonstrated involvement of all three serous cavities, predominantly exudative. Cardiac insufficiency cases typically presented with transudative effusions. The triple serous cavity effusion group exhibited significantly lower hemoglobin, serum albumin, calcium, and IgM levels (p < 0.05), alongside significantly elevated C-reactive protein, brain natriuretic peptide, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and D-dimer levels (p < 0.05), indicating more severe disease progression.
Conclusion:
The etiology of pediatric multiple serous effusions is diverse and closely linked to patient age and effusion location. The number of affected cavities may serve as an indicator of disease severity.
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