Epidemiological profile of pediatric inpatients with pneumonia <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to describe the epidemiologic and clinical profile of children hospitalized by pneumonia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included patients younger than 18 years, hospitalized with pneumonia between January and December 2009 in a pediatric hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. Demographic data, immunization schedule, tobacco exposure, length of stay, need of intensive care and/or mechanical ventilation, outcomes, clinical diagnosis, radiological findings, use of antibiotics and oxygen, patient origin and the need of blood cultures have been analyzed. RESULTS: In 2009, 93 children and adolescents were hospitalized with pneumonia, predominantly male (2:1), mostly coming from Joinville. The average age of patients was 3.1 years (median 2 years). The length of hospitalization was 7.5 days, increasing in patients with passage through the intensive care unit. In the period from June to August occurred the highest number of admissions (34.4%). The most commonly used antibiotic was penicillin and the main radiology finding was alveolar condensation in the right upper lobe. Twenty seven per cent of patients required supplemental oxygen and 9% were admitted to the intensive care unit. Six patients (6.7%) had pleural effusion. Blood cultures were not performed in 56% of admitted patients and no bacterial growth was detected in those collected. CONCLUSIONS: the admissions were more frequent in winter season, with male predominance and low rates of complications, as pleural effusions. The low rates of blood cultures collected and its negative results suggest the need for local guidelines and continuous training of pediatric physicians.