Introduction:

pneumonias represent one of the main public health problems worldwide in children under five years old; they constitute the first cause of mortality due to acute infections and the second cause of hospitalization.

Objective:

to characterize clinically and epidemiologically complicated pneumonias in children admitted Respiratory Diseases Service at Pepe Portilla Provincial Pediatric Hospital during 2015-2016.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research was carried out. The target group consisted of patients between one month and 14 years old hospitalized for pneumonia, and the sample consisted of 50 cases with complicated evolution. The patient's medical records and a questionnaire applied to the parents were analyzed; using absolute and relative percentage frequencies to express the data.

Results:

the age group of 1-4 years (28 %), male sex (64 %) and those belonging to the urban area (58 %) predominated. Allergic respiratory diseases were the main associated chronic disease. Low birth-weight, energy protein malnutrition, early abandonment of breastfeeding, cohabitation with smokers and attendance at children's day care centers were the risk factors detected in the patients studied. The main complication was pleural effusion (68 %).

Conclusions:

complicated pneumonia was characterized in the indicated period, detecting elements that show these are still a health problem and guide the design of actions to prevent the onset of complications.

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