METHOD:
Pneumonia was diagnosed based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological data. Its severity and the diagnosis of complicated pneumonia were confirmed via radiological examination. In the presence of PPE, NP, EMP, and LA, CCAP is considered. Simple pleural effusion accompanied by CAPs was treated, and thoracic USG was performed to assess effusion (≤10 mm, without septations).
Patient data :
Data about demographic characteristics such as age and sex; admission symptoms; physical examination findings; laboratory and imaging results; treatment information in the file records of 113 patients aged between 1 month and 18 years who were hospitalized in our hospital’s pediatric wards between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2017, due to CAP and CCAP; and treatment response were obtained. Moreover, information regarding comorbidities (such as asthma, immunodeficiency, and congenital heart disease) and treatments was investigated. Medical history, duration of fever, and antibiotic therapy history was noted. In patients diagnosed with CCAP who developed PPE and EMP, data about medical procedures such as thoracentesis and/or chest tube insertion, pleural fluid examination, microbiological analysis, and additional imaging; surgical intervention (thoracentesis, GT, and VATS), and hospitalization duration were investigated. Patients with an underlying chronic lung disease (including cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis), hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated pneumonia, primary or secondary immunodeficiency, and swallowing dysfunction were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two groups (those without pulmonary complications and those without). Then, the two groups were compared using the abovementioned variables.