Abstract

CRUZ ROBAINA, Juan Carlos et al. Clinical and epidemiological characterization of pneumonia in hospitalized children. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.1, pp. 158-168. ISSN 1561-3194.

An observational, descriptive, longitudinal study was conducted during 2010 aimed at characterizing community-acquired-pneumonia clinically and epidemiologically. The target group was comprised of 350 children between 28 days old and 15 years old who were chosen through a simple at random sampling from the total of the in-hospital cases admitted in Pulmonology Service at "Comandante Pinares" University Hospital, San Cristobal, Astemisa, Cuba. The necessary information to carry out this research was taken from a survey that included the following variables: identity general data, place of residence, maternal educational degree, risk factors, nutritional status and clinical symptoms and signs. Percentage mean and chi square hypothesis test were used to perform the statistical assessment by a computerized system. The disease prevailed in male sex (53.7%), ages between 1-4 years old (56.0%), respiratory infection was the most recurrent associated risk factor, cough and fever were the most frequent clinical symptoms, no more than 4% presented some degree of protein-energy malnutrition. Pneumonia was a serious health problem examined in the hospital.

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