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Host factors and pneumonia in hospitalised children
P B Agrawal1, N Shendurnikar, N J Shastri
1Department of Paediatrics, Medical College, Baroda.
Insights
Malnutrition significantly increases pneumonia duration and fatality in Indian children. Associated illnesses and severe pneumonia also contribute to higher mortality rates, impacting child survival.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute respiratory infections (ARI) cause a substantial burden of childhood mortality in India, representing 20-24% of deaths.
- Pneumonia is a major component of ARI, necessitating investigation into its risk factors and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify host-related risk factors influencing the outcome of pneumonia in hospitalized children.
- To determine the case fatality rate of pneumonia in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 127 hospitalized children aged 2 months to 5 years was studied.
- Host-related factors, including malnutrition, associated illnesses, and pneumonia severity, were assessed for their impact on outcomes.
Main Results:
- The overall case fatality rate for pneumonia in the study was 11.8%.
- Malnutrition was identified as a significant risk factor, correlating with increased pneumonia duration and fatal outcomes.
- Associated illnesses and pneumonia severity were also linked to increased mortality.
Conclusions:
- Host factors, particularly malnutrition, play a critical role in the prognosis of childhood pneumonia in India.
- Interventions targeting malnutrition and managing associated illnesses are crucial for reducing pneumonia-related deaths in children.
Abstract:
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) account for 20-24% of childhood deaths in India. The present study investigated the host related risk factors in the outcome of pneumonia in 127 hospitalised children between the ages of 2 months and 5 years. The case fatality rate in the study was 11.8%. Presence of malnutrition is a significantly important factor for both increased duration of pneumonia and fatal outcome. Other factors for increased pneumonia mortality include the presence of associated illness and the severity of the pneumonia.