Community-acquired Pneumonia among Hospitalized Children: Risk Factors, Characteristics, and Outcomes

Abstract

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) represents one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five children worldwide. More than 75% of these fatalities are caused by severe pneumonia. Objectives to identify the potential risk factors associated with severe CAP among under-five children hospitalized with CAP. Patients and Methods This prospective observational study was conducted on children, aged 1 to 59 months, who were admitted with CAP to the Department of Pediatrics, Mataria Teaching Hospital, Egypt. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, patients were classified into two groups; CAP and severe CAP. Data including demographic, children's history, clinical assessment, laboratory and radiological characteristics, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results Of the 222 patients enrolled, 100 (45%) children were diagnosed with severe CAP. Severe CAP patients were found to have more than twice the risk of death compared to CAP cases (OR=2.3, P=0.01). The risk factors including; age ≤12 months (OR=2.6, P=0.007), prematurity (OR=2.1, P=0.03), malnutrition (OR=2, P=0.04), oxygen saturation dioxide (PCO2) >50mmHg (OR=2.5, P=0.03), and C-reactive protein (CRP) >6mg/L (OR=3.3, P