Clinical epidemiological profile of complicated pneumonia acquired in the community in children at a reference maternity child hospital

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical-epidemiological profile of community-acquired pneumonia complicated in children to improve prevention and diagnostic strategies, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality caused by this condition. METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted at a maternal and child referral hospital, involving 130 children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, aged under 10 years, over a 6-month period. The children were classified into two groups: uncomplicated pneumonia and complicated pneumonia. RESULTS: Of the hospitalized children, 74.6% had Community-Acquired Pneumonia, and 25.4% were diagnosed with complications. Both groups presented similar socioeconomic profiles, with a predominance of mixed-race children, low income, and parents with 9 to 13 years of education. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of vaccination and the presence of comorbidities, the literature indicates that the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Brazil reduced mortality and hospitalizations due to pneumonia. This lack of statistical difference may be related to the emerging resistance of specific serotypes, such as 19A, which has shown significant resistance to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to increase vaccine coverage against other Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, monitor serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance to improve the control of pneumonia in children.