Factors Associated with Presence of Pneumonia and Meningitis Among Pediatric Patients Presenting with Enteric Fever

Objective: To study association of various factors with presence of complications like pneumonia and meningitis in children presenting with enteric fever. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatrics Department Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, Mar 2021 Feb 2022. Methodology: A total 200 pediatric patients with confirmed diagnosis of enteric fever presenting at pediatric department were recruited in this analysis. Detailed systemic examination was conducted followed by relevant investigations to look for complications like pneumonia and meningitis in study participants. All baseline blood investigations including liver function tests were carried out at time of clinical evaluation. Age, gender, residential area and salmonella typhi vaccination status were associated with presence of pneumonia and meningitis in children with enteric fever. Results: Out of 200 children with enteric fever included in the study 112(56%) were male while 88(44%) were female. Mean age of the children in our study was 9.56±5.63 years. 24(12%) children were having pneumonia while 6(3%) children had meningitis. Fever was the commonest symptom reported by our study participants. Statistical analysis revealed that not being vaccinated for salmonella typhi and being from rural area had statistically significant relationship with presence of pneumonia and/or meningitis in our target population (p-value<0.005). Conclusion: Complications were not uncommon in children suffering from enteric fever presenting to our hospital. Children who were not vaccinated or were coming from rural area were found more at risk of having complications like pneumonia and meningitis in our study.