Joshua Francis,
Author Of 1 Presentation
CLINICAL FEATURES OF PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION (SAM): PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A SURVEILLANCE PROJECT AT THE DILI NATIONAL HOSPITAL, TIMOR-LESTE (ID 679)
Abstract
Background
SAM is a significant risk factor for pneumonia, but pneumonia can be hard to diagnose in children with SAM. We aimed to assess differences in clinical findings of pneumonia cases with and without SAM.
Methods
Pulmaun Saudavel is an ongoing surveillance study of children aged 1-59 months hospitalised with pneumonia and/or SAM in Dili, Timor-Leste. Pneumonia was defined as cough or difficulty breathing and any one of: respiratory rate >50bpm, oxygen saturation <90%, lower chest wall indrawing (LCWI), or World Health Organization(WHO)-defined radiological pneumonia. SAM was defined according to WHO criteria.
Results
Of 160 children enrolled between September 2019 and January 2020, 103 (64%) had pneumonia, 27 (17%) SAM, and 30 (19%) both pneumonia and SAM. Two children died, both with pneumonia and SAM. Compared to pneumonia-only cases, children with pneumonia and SAM more frequently met enrolment criteria because of radiological pneumonia (54% vs 42%) and less frequently for LCWI (48% vs 62%), and had more lethargy (43% vs 25%), and vomiting (17% vs 8%; all p>0.05). No differences were found for tachypnoea, hypoxemia, or auscultation findings.
Conclusions
Pneumonia is common in SAM. While LCWI is used in many pneumonia guidelines, it may not be as useful for children with SAM.