Community-acquired pneumonia in children under five years old

Abstract

Background: pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality due to acute respiratory infections (ARI), with 6 million annual medical care and high costs that are taxed on the health system, as well as its human and social impact.
Objective: to describe the incidence of pneumonia in children under 5 years old admitted in "Aleida Fernández Chardiet" Teaching General Hospital from Güines municipality in Mayabeque province, during three years of study.
Methods: a descriptive and prospective study was carried out in children under 5 years old, who were admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia in the pediatric wards of that hospital, from January, 2011 to December, 2013. The study population was the totality of children under 5 years old, who were admitted with that diagnosis: 1120 patients.
Results: the 25,9 % of pneumonia was found in children under one year old, with a slight prevalence in males: 55,5 %; breastfeeding for less than six months was the most important associated risk factor: 67,6 %, anemia, with a 52,5 %, leukocytosis, with 66 %, and accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, with 63 % prevailed. The most common symptoms were fever: 93 %, focalization on auscultation: 91 %, and cough: 90 %. 74,8 % were treated with penicillin.
Conclusions: it was possible to describe the incidence of pneumonia in children under 5 years old, identifying the associated risk factors, a premise for developing health actions and reduce morbidity and mortality as a result of this disease.