Clinical-epidemiological characterization of complicated community-acquired pneumonia in children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the “Pepe Portilla” Pediatric Hospital

Authors

  • Irene Álvarez-Alonso Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río. Cuba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna”. Pinar del Río
  • Raúl Daniel Lagar-Martínez Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río. Hospital Pediátrico Provincial Docente “Pepe Portilla”. Pinar del Río https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0240-0094
  • Raúl Enrique Lagar-Álvarez Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río. Cuba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna”. Pinar del Río https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3307-9670
  • Dunia Echevarría-Padrón Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río. Cuba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna”. Pinar del Río https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5332-5448
  • José Alejandro Lagar-Álvarez Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río. Cuba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas “Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna”. Pinar del Río https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4138-1597

Keywords:

Respiratory System Infections, Intensive Care Units, Therapeutics, Age Groups

Abstract

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections constitute a serious health problem as they are the main cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the world, mainly during the first year of life.

Objective: To clinically and epidemiologically characterize complicated community pneumonias in children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the "Pepe Portilla" Pediatric Hospital.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on 80 patients with pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the "Pepe Portilla" Pediatric Hospital.

Results: children from 0 to 4 years of age were more affected (77,5 %), with a slight predominance of the male sex (60 %). Fever and polypnea were present in 15 % of the patients' symptoms. Streptococcus pneumoniae (8,7 %) was the predominant germ in pleural fluid. The combination of antibiotics and fibrinolytics (91,3 %) was the predominant therapeutic combination. Sepsis was the most common complication (22,5 %). The length of stay with most patients was < 10 days (81,3 %).

Conclusions: the most affected age group was 0-4 years of age, the predominant sex was male, the predominant symptoms were fever and polypnea, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the microorganism responsible for the appearance of this disease, the use of antibiotics plus fibrinolytics was necessary, sepsis predominated as the most severe complication and the hospital stay in said unit was less than 10 days.

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Published

2022-12-15

How to Cite

1.
Álvarez-Alonso I, Lagar-Martínez RD, Lagar-Álvarez RE, Echevarría-Padrón D, Lagar-Álvarez JA. Clinical-epidemiological characterization of complicated community-acquired pneumonia in children admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the “Pepe Portilla” Pediatric Hospital. Univ. Méd. Pinareña [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 15 [cited 2025 Apr. 3];18(4):e910. Available from: https://revgaleno.sld.cu/index.php/ump/article/view/910

Issue

Vol. 18 (2022): Suplemento

Section

Original Article

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