摘要：Background : Community acquired Pneumonia (CAP) can be defined clinically as the presence of signs and symptoms of pneumonia in a previously healthy child caused by an infection acquired outside a hospital.CAP is a substantial cause of childhood morbidity and mortality throughout the world.We studied the clinical features,laboratory findings,radiological features of CAP and its complications in children admitted to a tertiary care hospital.Material And Methods : This is a retrospective observational study of 50 children aged 2 months to 14 years admitted under Paediatric care at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai between Jan 2014 toApril 2015.Pneumonia was diagnosed based on evidence ofconsolidation on chest radiograph and lor presence of clinical findings suggestive of pneumonia.Results : The mean age of children was 4.5 years with range from 4 months to 13 years.Male to Female ratio was 0.98:1.16 children had pre-existing risk factors.65% children had history of fever? 5 days with tachypnea noted in 32% children and 20% had SPO2 <95%.Tachypnea was noted in 32 % of children.As per WHO clinical classification,the distribution of pneumonia as very severe pneumonia,severe pneumonia;preumonia;and no pneumonia was 4%,2%,32%,62% respectively.However 42% of children as no pneumonia as per WHO criteria had evidence of pneumonia on chest radiograph and remainder 20% had clinical.findings on auscultation.80% of study subjects had evidence of pneumonia on chest radiograph.Average length of hospital stay was 7.2 days.All children were started on intravenous antibiotics.Complications developed in 5 patients.4% of patients died in our study which co-relates with the outcome in developed nation.Conclusion : Community acquired pneumonia has been on the decline in developed countries due to newer vaccines,anti-microbial therapy,advances in diagnostic modalities and excellent access to healthcare;childhood pneumonia still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries.
