CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN IN VIET NAM CENTRAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Que Anh Tram1, Tang Xuan Hai2, Tran Quang Phuc3
1 Nghe An Central for tropical diseases
2 Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital
3 National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: In developing countries, pneumococcal pneumonia is the common cause of death in
children. Pneumococcal pneumonia can be severe and may need to be treated at specialized hospital,
like Central Children’s Hospital. The purpose of this research is to describe clinical and paraclinical
characteristics of pneumococcal pneumonia in Viet Nam Central Children’s Hospital.
Methods: A prospective cohort study involving 169 children aged 1-month to 15-years admitted to
Viet Nam Central Children’s Hospital from September 2015 to December 2018.
Results: S. pneumoniae accounts for 41,52% of pneumonia cases in children, with the male and
female ratio of 2/1, occurring most frequently at children ages 2-months to 2-years. Clinical
manifestations are broad and nonspecific. The most common clinical symptoms are cough (94,67%),
fever (89,94%), runny nose (88,76%), wheeze (78,11%), cyanosis (12,43%), coarse (80,47%)
and chest retraction (62,7%). The incidence of leukocytosis, high CRP and anemia was 91,72%,
68,05% and 40,24%, respectively. The most common finding in chest X-ray was broncho-alveolar
(79,29%), lobar or segmental consolidation (17,16%) and pleural fluid (5,33%), pneumococcal
severe pneumonia (68%).
Conclusion: Pneumococcus is currently the leading cause of pneumonia in children. Clinical
manifestations of pneumococcal pneumonia in children are nonspecific. Lesions on X-ray are mainly
broncho-alveolar, which is different from previous studies, mostly lobar or segmental consolidation.
The incidence of pneumococcal severe pneumonia is high, so it is necessary to develop the methods
of diagnosis for early detection to limit the complications of the disease.

Article Details

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