CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVERE PNEUMONIA REQUIRING MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT THE RESPIRATORY DEPARTMENT, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 2

Abstract

Backround: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in children under 5 year-old, in which the mortality rate of severe pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation (SPMV) is still relatively high. It is necessary to identify epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical characteristics and treatment of SPMV to optimize treatment and reduce mortality.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical characteristics and treatment of children with SPMV at the Respiratory department, Children's Hospital 2 in 2023.

Method: Case series report.

Results: Among 56 children with SPMV, 71.4% were under 12 months old, 57.1% were moderately to severely malnourished, and 28.6% had comorbidities. The male/female ratio was 2.3/1. The most common clinical symptoms were chest indrawing (94.6%), crackles in lungs (94.6%), and anemia (55.3%). Alveolar infiltrates were the most common lesions on chest X-ray (92.9%). The three bacteria most frequently isolated from NTA and ETA cultures and PCR were K.pneumoniae, A.baumannii, and P.aeruginnosa. The two viruses most frequently isolated from ETA, blood, and NTA PCR were Adenovirus (42.8%) and Cytomegalovirus (28.6%). There were 67.8% of cases coinfected with 2 microbial agents. The mortality rate was 41.1%.

Conclusion: SPMV is common in children under 12 months of age and the mortality rate remains high.

Keywords: pneumonia; mechanical ventilation; children