Risk factors associated with recurrent pneumonia in children from Las Tunas

Abstract

Background: more than 80 % of children with recurrent pneumonia have some risk factor or concomitant disease.

Objective: to identify risk factors associated with recurrent pneumonia in children treated at the “Mártires de Las Tunas” Provincial Pediatric Hospital of Las Tunas, in the period 2018-2019.

Methods: a retrospective analytical case-control study was carried out at the aforementioned hospital and during the period herein declared. The universe was made up of 520 patients with pneumonia who were admitted to the institution. The sample included 232, divided into two groups: the study group with 58 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of recurrent pneumonia and a control group of 174 with a diagnosis of pneumonia without recurrences.

Results: the risk factors with causal association were: ages between five and ten years; past medical history of infantile cerebral palsy, congenital cardiopathy with increased pulmonary flow, malnutrition and bronchial asthma; classification in extensive pneumonia of the right hemithorax, severe pneumonia, complicated pneumonias (sepsis, anemia and pleural effusion) and the isolation of germs. There was no causal association in: the rest of the ages; sex; affected lung; past medical history of atopy, low birthweight, immunodeficiency, neurofibromatosis, prematurity, thrombopathies, chronic adenoiditis, sicklemia and gastroesophageal reflux. The following factors were protective: right base or paracardiac location; the absence of a past medical history and complications; non-gravity and non-isolation of germs.

Conclusions: the risk factors for recurrences in pneumonia were identified, which will make it possible to establish strategies for a better management.